Picture data printing apparatus and print picture data generating apparatus

ABSTRACT

This still picture filing system comprises a printer unit 2, a picture processing block 3, a thinning and compression/expansion processing block 4, a storage unit 5 and a system controller 6 which are connected through a bus line 7. Print picture data is formed by the picture processing block 3 on the basis of plural picture data which have been read out from a recording medium by the storage unit 5 to print the print picture data onto an index card at the printer unit 2. To realize this, the system controller 6 controls the printer unit 2, the picture processing block 3, the thinning and compression/expansion processing block 4 and the storage unit 5.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a picture data printing apparatus and a printpicture data generating apparatus which are adapted for printing, ontoan index card, plural picture data recorded on a recording medium by thepicture filing system so that their contents can be indicated orrecognized as a list.

BACKGROUND ART

Hitherto, there have been known picture filing systems adapted fortaking thereinto picture data from scanner, etc. to record the picturedata thus taken in onto a recording medium such as an optical disc, etc.to carry out filing of the picture data. This picture filing systemcomprises a memory for temporarily storing picture taken in from thescanner, a picture processing unit for implementing picture processingsuch as enlargement, contraction and rotation, etc. to the picture datawhich have been read out from the memory, and a recording unit forrecording, onto the optical disc, the picture data which has been causedto undergo picture processing.

Meanwhile, since recent optical discs have very large memory capacity,it is possible to store picture data of several hundred frames onto asingle optical disc. In addition, such picture filing system is causedto store picture data of several hundred frames not only on a singledisc but also on plural respective discs so that of picture data ofseveral thousand frames are permitted to undergo filing.

However, when the number of discs on which picture data are recorded isincreased, user could not recognize the relationship between discs andkind (attribute) of picture data recorded thereon. When operatorattempts to search the picture data that he desires from a largequantity of picture data recorded on plural discs, a procedure must betaken to once the disc, into the recording/reproduction unit to read outpicture data recorded on the disc to confirm it on the monitor.Accordingly, when such a processing is carried out with respect to theplural discs, not only time but also extremely much labor are required.

This invention has been made in view of such problems as describedabove, and its object is to provide a picture data printing apparatusand a print picture data generating apparatus which can easily judgerespective picture data stored on discs by the picture filing system.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

A picture data printing apparatus according to this invention comprises:read-out means for reading out plural picture data from a recordingmedium; picture formation means for forming print picture data on thebasis of the plural picture data which have been read out by theread-out means; printing means for printing the printing picture dataformed by the picture formation means onto an index card; and controlmeans for controlling the read-out means, the picture formation meansand the printing means so that the plural picture data can be indicatedas a list by the index card on which the print picture data has beenprinted.

The control means controls the read-out means so as to read out, from arecording medium including, e.g., high resolution picture file includinghigh resolution picture data having first resolution, intermediateresolution picture file including intermediate resolution picture datahaving second resolution, and index picture file including plural indexpicture data having third resolution, the intermediate resolutionpicture data included within the intermediate resolution picture file,and to control the picture formation means so as to form print picturedata from the intermediate resolution picture data which has been readout by the read-out means.

Moreover, the control means controls the read-out means so as to readout, from a recording medium including, e.g., high resolution picturefile including high resolution picture data having first resolution,intermediate resolution picture file including intermediate resolutionpicture data having second resolution, index picture file includingplural index picture data having third resolution, and management fileincluding information indicating relevancy of the high resolutionpicture data the intermediate resolution picture data and the indexpicture data, the intermediate resolution picture data included withinthe intermediate resolution picture file, and to control the pictureformation means so as to form print picture data from the intermediateresolution picture data which has been read out by the read-out means.

Further, the control means includes memory means for temporarilystoring, e.g., information included within the management file recordedon the recording medium.

Further, the control means controls the read-out means so as to readout, from a recording medium having hierarchical directory structureconsisting of, e.g., main directory and plural picture directoriesformed as subdirectory within the main directory, and including themanagement file consisting of first management file formed within themain directory and second management file formed within the pluralpicture directories, the intermediate resolution picture data includedwithin the intermediate resolution picture file on the basis ofinformation included within the management file.

Further, the control means controls the read-out means so as to makesreference to, from a recording medium in which, e.g., overallinformation management file is formed as the first management file andpicture data management file is formed as the second management file,picture directory number and picture number included within the picturedata management file stored in the memory means as information includedwithin the management file to thereby designate the intermediateresolution picture file which is to be read out by the read-out means toread out the intermediate resolution picture data from the designatedintermediate resolution picture file.

Further, the control means controls the read-out means so as to makereference to, from a recording medium in which, e.g., overallinformation management file is formed as the first management file andpicture data management file is formed as the second management file,information of plural picture information units included within thepicture data management file stored in the memory means as informationincluded within the management file to thereby designate theintermediate resolution picture file in order of picture directorynumber and picture number to read out the intermediate resolutionpicture data in accordance with the designated order from allintermediate resolution picture files recorded on the recording medium.

Further, the control means controls the picture formation means so as toform, e.g., intermediate/low resolution picture data having resolutionwhich is lower than the second resolution and is higher than the thirdresolution by decreasing data quantity from the intermediate resolutiondata which has been read out by the read-out means.

Further, the control means selects resolution of the intermediate/lowresolution picture data, e.g., on the basis of printable resolution ofthe printing means.

Further, the control means controls the picture formation means on thebasis of information included within the management file stored in thememory means so that related information data corresponding to the highresolution picture data caused to be related to the intermediateresolution data which has been read out by the read-out means issynthesized with the intermediate/low resolution picture data.

Further, the related information data synthesized with theintermediate/low resolution picture data includes, e.g., picturedirectory number indicating picture directory in which high resolutionpicture file including high resolution picture data related to theintermediate resolution data is recorded, and picture number indicatingorder of the high resolution picture data within corresponding picturedirectory.

Further, the control means makes reference to, e.g., picture informationunit corresponding to the related high resolution picture data withinthe management file stored in the memory means to thereby obtain thedirectory number and the picture number.

Further, the related information data synthesized with theintermediate/low resolution picture data includes, e.g., data indicatingrecording mode of high resolution picture data related to theintermediate resolution data. The data indicating the recording mode is,e.g., data indicating any one of high resolution recording mode andultra (super) high resolution recording mode in which the highresolution picture data included within the high resolution picture fileis recorded.

Further, the control means makes reference to, e.g., picture kindinformation of picture information unit corresponding to the relatedhigh resolution picture data within the management file stored in thememory means to thereby obtain the data indicating the recording mode.

Further, the control means controls the read-out means so as todesignate the intermediate resolution picture file, e.g., in order ofpicture directory number and picture number to read out, from therecording medium, the intermediate resolution picture data in thedesignated order, and controls the picture formation means so as todecrease data quantity from the intermediate resolution data which hasbeen read out by the read-out means to form in order intermediate/lowresolution picture data having resolution which is lower than the secondresolution and is higher than the third resolution to form the printpicture data from all the formed intermediate/low resolution picturedata.

Further, the control means controls the picture formation means so thatprocessing information used in implementing processing for accommodatingthe index card into a storage (keeping) case for the recording medium issynthesized with the intermediate/low resolution picture data. Theprocessing information is, e.g., cutting line for cutting the index cardfrom print media.

Further, the control means controls the read-out means so as to readout, from a recording medium including, e.g., high resolution picturefile including high resolution picture data having first resolution,intermediate resolution picture file including intermediate picture datahaving second resolution, index picture file including plural indexpicture data having third resolution, and management file includinginformation relevancy of the high resolution picture data, theintermediate resolution picture data and the index picture data, pluralindex picture data included within the index picture file on the basisof information included within the management file, and controls thepicture formation means so as to form print picture data from the pluralindex picture data which have been read out by the read-out means.

Further, the control means controls the read-out means so as to readout, from a recording medium having hierarchical directory structureconsisting of, e.g., main directory and plural picture directoriesformed as subdirectory within the main directory, and including themanagement file consisting of first management file formed within themain directory and second management file formed within the pluralpicture directories, plural index picture data included within the indexpicture file on the basis of information included within the managementfile.

Further, the control means controls the read-out means so as to makereference to, from a recording medium in which, e.g., overallinformation management file is formed as the first management file andpicture data management file is formed as the second management file,picture directory number included within the picture data managementfile stored in the memory means as information included within themanagement file to thereby designate index picture file which is to beread out by the read-out means to read out plural index picture datafrom the designated index picture file.

Further, the control means controls the read-out means so as todesignate, from a recording medium in which overall informationmanagement file is formed as the first management file and picture datamanagement file is formed as the second management file, the indexpicture file in order from picture directories of smaller picturedirectory number on the basis of information included within the overallinformation management file stored in the memory means as informationincluded within the management file to read out plural index picturedata from all the index picture files recorded on the recording medium.

Further, the control means controls the picture formation means so thatevery time one index picture file is read out by the read-out means,e.g., on the basis of information included within management file storedin the memory means, related information data corresponding to pluralhigh resolution picture data related to plural index picture dataincluded within the index picture file thus read out are respectivelysynthesized with the plural index picture data. The related informationdata synthesized with the index picture data includes, e.g., picturedirectory number indicating picture directory within which highresolution picture file including high resolution picture data relatedto the index picture data is recorded, and picture number indicatingorder of the high resolution picture data within corresponding picturedirectory.

Further, the control means makes reference to, e.g., picture informationunit corresponding to the related high resolution picture data withinthe management file stored in the memory means to thereby obtain thedirectory number and the picture number.

Further, the related information data synthesized with the index picturedata includes, e.g., data indicating recording mode of the highresolution picture data related to the index picture data. The dataindicating the recording mode is, e.g., data indicating any one of highresolution recording mode and ultra high resolution recording mode inwhich high resolution picture data included within the high resolutionpicture file is recorded.

Further, the control means makes reference to, e.g., picture kindinformation of picture information unit corresponding to the relatedhigh resolution picture data within the management file stored in thememory means to thereby obtain the data indicating the recording mode.

Further, the control means controls the read-out means so as todesignate the index picture files in order, e.g., from picturedirectories of smaller picture directory number to read out, in thedesignated order, all the index picture data recorded on the recordingmedium, and controls the picture formation means so as to form the printpicture data from all the index picture data which have been read out bythe read-out means.

Further, the control means comprises selector means for selecting anyone of first print picture data formation mode in which an operation ismade to read out, by the read-out means, from a recording mediumincluding, e.g., high resolution picture file including high resolutionpicture data having first resolution, intermediate resolution picturefile including intermediate resolution picture data having secondresolution, index picture file including plural index picture datahaving third resolution and management file including informationindicating relevancy of the high resolution picture data, theintermediate resolution picture data and index picture data, theintermediate resolution picture data included within the intermediateresolution picture file to form first print picture data by the pictureformation means from the intermediate resolution picture data thus readout, and second print picture data formation mode in which an operationis made to read out plural index picture data included within the indexpicture file by the read-out means to form second print picture data bythe picture formation means from the index picture data thus read out.The first print picture data consists of picture data having resolutionhigher than that of the second print picture data.

Further, this invention is directed to a picture data printing apparatusadapted for printing picture data reproduced from a recording mediumincluding high resolution picture file including high resolution picturedata having first resolution, intermediate resolution picture fileincluding intermediate resolution picture data having second resolution,index picture file including plural index picture data having thirdresolution, and management file including information indicatingrelevancy of the high resolution picture data, the intermediateresolution picture data and the index picture data, the apparatuscomprising: read-out means for reading out, every index picture file,all the index picture data included within all the index picture filesrecorded on the recording medium; picture formation means forsynthesizing, in order, all the index picture data which have been readout by the read-out means to form print picture data; printing means forprinting the print picture data formed by the picture formation meansonto an index card; and control means for controlling the read-outmeans, the picture formation means and the printing means so that allthe index picture data recorded on the recording medium can be indicatedas a list by the index card on which the print picture data has beenprinted.

The control means in the picture data printing apparatus controls thepicture formation means so that every time, e.g., one index picture fileis read out by the read-out means, related information datacorresponding to plural high resolution picture data related to pluralindex picture data included within the index picture file thus read outare respectively synthesized with all the index picture data.

In addition, this invention is directed to a print picture datagenerating unit (apparatus) in a picture data printing apparatus adaptedfor printing picture data reproduced from a recording medium includinghigh resolution picture file including high resolution picture datahaving first resolution, intermediate resolution picture file includingintermediate resolution picture data having second resolution, indexpicture file including plural index picture data having thirdresolution, and management file including information indicatingrelevancy of the high resolution picture data, the intermediateresolution picture data and the index picture data, the print picturedata generating unit comprising: read-out means for reading out, everyindex picture file, all index picture data included within all indexpicture files recorded on the recording means; picture formation meansfor forming print picture data from all the index picture data whichhave been read out by the read-out means; and control means forcontrolling the read-out means and the picture formation means so thatall the index picture data recorded on the recording medium can beindicated as a list by print media on which the print picture data hasbeen printed.

The control means in this print picture data generating unit controlsthe picture formation means so that every time, e.g., one index picturefile is read out by the read-out means, related information datacorresponding to plural high resolution picture data related to pluralindex picture data included within the index picture file thus read outare respectively synthesized with all the index picture data.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a still picture filing system to which thisinvention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of scanner unit provided in the still picturefiling system.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of printer unit provided in the still picturefiling system.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of picture processing block provided in thestill picture filing system.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of thinning and contraction/expansion blockprovided in the still picture filing system.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of storage unit provided in the still picturefiling system.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of video input unit provided in the stillpicture filing system.

FIGS. 8(a-8(c) are a view for explaining data structure of picture datarecorded on the optical disc.

FIGS. 9(a)-9(c) are a view for explaining management block formed indata U-TOC.

FIG. 10 is a view for explaining sector structure of volume descriptor.

FIG. 11 is a view for explaining sector structure of volume spacebitmap.

FIGS. 12(a)-12(b) are a view for explaining the configuration ofallocation block.

FIG. 13 is a view for explaining sector structure of management table.

FIGS. 14(a)-14(h) are a view for explaining respective data recorded inthe management table.

FIG. 15 is a view for explaining sector structure of directory recordfor directory.

FIG. 16 is a view for explaining sector structure of directory recordfor file.

FIG. 17 is a view for explaining sector structure of extent recordblock.

FIGS. 18(a-18(c) are a view for explaining respective resolutions ofpicture data in the still picture filing system.

FIG. 19 is a view for explaining hierarchical directory structure forcarrying out management of picture data every respective resolutions inthe still picture filing system.

FIG. 20 is a view for explaining DRB and ERB constituting the managementblock.

FIG. 21 is a view for explaining the configuration of ERB constitutingthe management block.

FIG. 22 is a view for explaining format table in the hierarchicaldirectory structure.

FIG. 23 is a view for explaining picture parameter table in thehierarchical directory structure.

FIGS. 24(a)-24(b) are a view for explaining overall informationmanagement file in the hierarchical directory structure.

FIGS. 25(a-25(b) are a view for explaining picture data management tablein the hierarchical directory structure.

FIGS. 26(a-26(b) are a view for explaining print data management file inthe hierarchical directory structure.

FIG. 27 is a view for explaining picture data file in the hierarchicaldirectory structure.

FIGS. 28(a)-28(b) are a view for explaining overall index file in thehierarchical directory structure.

FIGS. 29(a-29(b) are a view for explaining picture index file in thehierarchical directory structure.

FIG. 30 is a view for explaining print data file in the hierarchicaldirectory structure.

FIG. 31 is a view for explaining print control data which is datacontent of print information unit included in the print data file.

FIG. 32 is a flowchart for explaining the recording operation of thefirst half in the still picture filing system.

FIG. 33 is a flowchart for explaining the recording operation of thelatter half in the still picture filing system.

FIG. 34 is a flowchart for explaining the recording operation of picturedata every respective resolutions in the still picture filing system.

FIG. 35 is a flowchart for explaining the forming operation of the firsthalf of overall index file in the still picture filing system.

FIG. 36 is a flowchart for explaining the forming operation of thelatter half of the overall index file in the still picture filingsystem.

FIG. 37 is a flowchart for explaining reproduction (playback) operationin the still picture filing system.

FIG. 38 is a flowchart for explaining retrieval operation of picturedata designated in the still picture filing system.

FIG. 39 is a flowchart for explaining the editing operation of picturedata in the still picture filing system.

FIG. 40 is a plan view of index card subjected to print by the stillpicture filing system.

FIG. 41 is a perspective view showing the structure of cassette case foraccommodating the index card therewithin along with disc cassette.

FIG. 42 is a plan view of another index card subjected to print by thestill picture filing system.

FIG. 43 is a perspective view for explaining accommodating state intothe cassette case of the index card shown in FIG. 42.

FIG. 44 is a plan view of disc cassette on which disc label prepared bythe still picture filing system is stuck.

FIG. 45 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of print of theindex card shown in FIG. 42.

FIG. 46 is a view showing picture processing for generatingintermediate/low resolution picture data of 256 pixels × 192 pixels fromintermediate resolution picture data including data of 640 pixels × 480pixels.

FIG. 47 is a view showing interpolation processing to 192 pixels × 256pixels in the low resolution mode.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Best mode (form) for carrying out this invention will now be describedin detail with reference to the attached drawings.

Initially, a picture data printing apparatus and a print picture datagenerating apparatus according to this invention is applied to a stillpicture filing system as shown in FIG. 1, for example.

1 [Configuration of the still picture filing system]

This still picture filing system comprises a scanner unit 1 for carryingout taking-in operation of picture (pictorial image) from film orphotograph, etc., a printer unit 2 for carrying out print operation ofstill picture corresponding to picture data taken in or recorded at thestill picture filing system, and a picture processing-block 3 forforming, from the picture data which has been taken in by the stillpicture filing system, high resolution picture data for print,intermediate resolution picture data for monitor display, and lowresolution picture data for index display. A video input unit 8 fortaking thereinto picture data from other image equipments such as videotape recorder equipment or camera device, etc., and a monitor unit 9 onwhich still picture image corresponding to picture data caused to bethrough the picture processing block 3 is displayed are connected to thepicture processing block 3.

Moreover, the still picture filing system comprises a thinning andcontraction/expansion block 4 for implementing thinning andcontraction/expansion processing to picture data which have been takeninto the still picture filing system, a storage unit 5 for recording andreproducing the picture data of respective resolutions with respect tooptical disc provided as a recording medium in the still picture filingsystem, and a system controller 6 for carrying out control of theentirety of the still picture filing system. At the system controller 6,as described later, there is provided a random access memory (RAM) 6afor temporarily storing picture data which has been read out from theoptical disc when recording the picture data after undergone sequencingin order of reproduction (playback). In addition, an operation unit 10for designating taking-in, recording, reproduction (playback) and print,etc. of the picture data is connected to the system controller 6.

The still picture filing system is of a structure in which the scannerunit 1, the printer unit 2, the picture processing block 3, the thinningand contraction/expansion processing block 4, the storage unit 5, andthe system controller 6 are connected (interconnected) through a busline 7.

1-1 [Configuration of the scanner unit]

The scanner unit 1 is composed, as shown in FIG. 2, of a CCD imagesensor 1a for reading still picture recorded on negative film, positivefilm or photograph, etc., an A/D converter 1b for allowing a picturesignal delivered as an analog signal from the CCD image sensor 1a toundergo digital conversion to form picture data, a correction section 1cfor implementing correction processing such as shading correction orcolor masking correction, etc. to the picture data from the A/Dconverter 1b, and an interface 1d connected to the bus line 7.

1-2 [Configuration of the printer unit]

The printer unit 2 is composed, as shown in FIG. 3, of an interface 2aconnected to the bus line 7, a data conversion circuit 2b forimplementing data conversion processing suitable for print to thepicture data delivered thereto, and a thermal head 2c for carrying outprint operation of still picture corresponding to the picture data fromthe data conversion circuit 2 onto a printer paper 2d. The printoperation at this printer unit is controlled in accordance with printcontrol data, which will be described later, for controlling the numberof prints, and hue (tint), etc.

1-3 [Configuration of the picture processing block]

The picture processing block 3 comprises, as shown in FIG. 4, a framememory 11 composed of a main memory 11a for temporarily storing picturedata taken into the still picture filing system and a video memory 11bfor temporarily storing picture data taken thereinto through the scannerunit 1 or the video input unit 8, etc., and a picture processing circuit12 for implementing picture processing such as expansion processing orcontraction processing, etc. to the picture data which has been read outfrom the main memory 11a. The picture processing block 3 furtherincludes a memory controller 13 for controlling the frame memory 11, apicture processing controller 14 for controlling picture processingoperation in the picture processing circuit 12, and an interface 15connected to the bus line 7.

More particularly, the frame memory 11 is composed of frame memory for Rin which picture data of Red (R) is subjected to read/write operation,frame memory for G in which picture data of Green (G) is subjected toread/write operation, and frame memory for B in which picture data ofBlue (B) is subjected to read/write operation.

The frame memories for respective colors are of a structure, from atheoretical point of view, such that eight DRAMs (Dynamic RAMs) in totalobtained by stacking four DRAMs in a depth direction in a double lineform, each having memory area of 4M bits in which, e.g., thethree-dimensional relationship of length, breadth and depth is expressedas 1024 pixels × 1024 pixels × 4 bits, have memory area of 2048×2048×8bits. Further, the frame memory 11 is of a structure, from a theoreticalpoint of view, such that the frame memories for respective colors havingthe memory area of 2048×2048×8 bits are respectively stacked in order ofR, G and B in the depth direction. For this reason, the frame memory 11has a memory area of 2048×2048×24 bits.

1-4 [Configuration of thinning and contraction/expansion processingblock]

The thinning and contraction/expansion processing block 4 is composed,as shown in FIG. 5, of an interface 4a connected to the bus line 7, abuffer 4b for temporarily storing high resolution picture data deliveredthrough the interface 4a, an 1/4 thinning circuit 4c for allowing thehigh resolution picture data from the buffer 4a to undergo thinningprocessing into 1/4 to thereby form intermediate resolution picturedata, and a buffer memory (buffer) 4d for temporarily storing theintermediate resolution picture data from the 1/4 thinning circuit 4c.Moreover, the thinning and contraction/expansion block 4 includes a 1/60thinning circuit 4e for allowing the intermediate resolution picturedata which has been read out from the memory 4d to undergo thinningprocessing into 1/60 to thereby form low resolution picture data, and aselector 4f for selecting any one of the high resolution picture datafrom the buffer 4b, the intermediate resolution picture data from the1/4 thinning circuit 4c, and the low resolution picture data from the1/60 thinning circuit 4e to output selected one. Further, the thinningand contraction/expansion block 4 includes a raster/block convertingcircuit 4g for dividing each picture data selected by the selector 4finto blocks of predetermined pixel unit suitable for compressionprocessing, a compression/expansion circuit 4h for implementing fixedlength encoding processing to the picture data blocked (divided intoblocks) by the raster/block converting circuit 4g, and a thinning andcontraction/expansion controller 4i for controlling the thinning andcontraction/expansion processing operation at the thinning andcontraction/expansion processing block 4.

1-5 [Configuration of the storage unit]

The storage unit 5 is composed, as shown in FIG. 6, of an interface 5aconnected to the bus line 7, an EFM circuit 5b for implementing 8-14modulation processing to picture data of respective resolutions from thethinning and compression/expansion processing block 4, a discrecording/reproduction section 5c for recording and reproducing picturedata from the EFM circuit 5b with respect to the optical disc 20, and astorage unit controller 5d for controlling the operation of the entiretyof the storage unit 5.

1-6 [Configuration of the video input unit]

The video input unit 8 is composed, as shown in FIG. 7, of an inputterminal 8a for composite video signal, an input terminal 8b for videosignal delivered in the Y (luminance)/C (chroma) separate format (form),an input terminal 8c for video signal delivered in the RGB format, avideo processing section 8d for implementing a processing to carry outconversion into picture size suitable for the still picture filingsystem to the video signals of respective formats delivered through therespective input terminals 8a to 8c, and an A/D converter 8e forconverting the respective video signals delivered as an analog signalfrom the video processing section 8d into digital data to formrespective picture data.

2 [Outline of the recording operation]

The first recording operation of the still picture filing system asconstructed above will now be described.

Initially, in the case where desired picture data is recorded ontooptical disc 20 of the storage unit 5, user operates the operation unit10 to designate destination of taking-in of picture data (scanner unit 1or video input unit 8), and to set destination of output of the picturedata which has been taken in to the storage unit 5. Thus, the systemcontroller 6 controls the scanner unit 1 or the video input unit 8 sothat it is in operative state.

2-1 [Description of the operation of the scanner unit]

The scanner unit 1 is adapted so that it can read both pictures ofreflection type manuscript and transmission type manuscript. In morepractical sense, the scanner unit 1 can read, e.g., photograph of Esize, photograph of L size, and photograph of A6 size as the reflectiontype manuscript, and can read negative film of 35 mm, or Brownie size asthe transmission type manuscript. It is to be noted that the scannerunit 1 can read manuscript obtained by allowing negative film of the 35mm, or Brownie size to undergo print at the original size.

When the film or photograph, etc. is mounted on the manuscript readingtable, the scanner unit 1 reads this manuscript by scanning CCD linesensor 1a shown in FIG. 2. The CCD line sensor 1a forms a picture signalcorresponding to the picture which has been read to deliver it to A/Dconverter 1b. The A/D converter 1b digitizes the picture signaldelivered from the CCD line sensor 1a to thereby form picture data todeliver it to correction system 1c. For example, in the case wherepicture has been read from the 35 mm film, the correction system 1ccorrects this picture data so that there is provided picture data ofsize (dimensions) of 1200 pixels × 1700 pixels as the size (dimensions)of length × breadth to output the corrected picture data.

Moreover, in the case where manuscripts to be read are film of Browniesize, photograph of E size, photograph of L size, and photograph of A6size, the scanner unit 1 respectively makes corrections into picturedata of sizes of 1298 pixels × 975-1875 pixels, 1050 pixels × 1450pixels, 1120 pixels × 1575 pixels, and 1325 pixels × 1825 pixels tooutput corrected picture data.

2-2 [Description of the operation of the video input unit]

The video input unit 8 is adapted as shown in FIG. 7 so that, e.g.,video signals of three formats of composite video signals, video signalsdelivered in the Y (luminance)/C (chroma) separate format, and videosignals delivered in the format of RGB from video tape recorderequipment, etc. can be inputted thereto. These video signals aredelivered to video processing system 8d through input terminals 8a to8c, respectively.

The video processing system 8d changes pixels of the video signals ofthe respective formats into pixels of cubic lattice, and makes a changesuch that their pixel sizes have 480 pixels × 640 pixels to deliver themto A/D converter 8e. The A/D converter 8e digitizes the video signals tothereby form picture data corresponding to the video signals of therespective formats to output them through output terminal 8f.

2-3 [Description of the operation of the picture processing block]

Picture data formed by the scanner unit 1 or the video input unit 2 arehigh resolution picture data such that, e.g., the dimensionalrelationship between length and breadth is expressed as 1024 pixels ×1536 pixels, and are delivered to video memory 11b within frame memory11 through input terminal 18 of the picture processing block 3 shown inFIG. 4.

The memory controller 13 is operative so that when high resolutionpicture data is delivered to the video memory 11b, it carries outwrite-in control and read-out control of the video memory 11b so as totemporarily store such picture data and to read out the stored highresolution picture data. This high resolution picture data istransferred to thinning and compression/expansion processing block 4through data line 17, interface 15, bus line 7 and data line 16 inorder, and is transferred to main memory 11a. The memory controller 13carries out write-in control of the main memory 11a so as to temporarilystore the high resolution picture data which has been transferred to themain memory 11a.

When the high resolution picture data is stored into the main memory11a, the picture processing controller 14 controls the pictureprocessing circuit 12 and the memory controller 13 so as to convert thehigh resolution picture data into, e.g., intermediate resolution picturedata for monitor display of 480 pixels × 640 pixels. Thus, the highresolution picture data is read out from the main memory 11a by read-outcontrol of the memory controller 13, and is delivered to the pictureprocessing circuit 12. Then, the high resolution picture data isconverted into intermediate resolution picture data by the pictureprocessing circuit 12, and is delivered to the video memory 11b throughthe data line 16, the interface 15, the bus line 7 and the data line 17in order. The memory controller 13 is operative so that when theintermediate resolution picture data is delivered to the video memory11b, it allows the video memory 11b to undergo write-in control so as totemporarily store such picture data and allows the video memory 11b toundergo read-out control so as to read out it. Thus, the intermediateresolution picture data stored in the video memory 11b is read out, andis then delivered to monitor unit 9 shown in FIG. 1 through outputterminal 19.

The intermediate resolution picture data delivered to the monitor unit 9is converted into picture data in analog form by D/A converter so that apicture signal for monitor display of intermediate resolution isprovided. Thus, the picture image which has been taken in by the scannerunit 1 or the video input unit 8 is displayed on the monitor unit 9.

In this example, the picture processing controller 14 shown in FIG. 4 isoperative so that in the case where picture processing such as expansionprocessing or contraction processing, etc. of picture which has beentaken in by the scanner unit 1 or the video input unit 8 as the resultof the fact that the operation unit 10 is operated, it controls thepicture processing circuit 12 so that the designated picture processingis implemented to the picture data which has been read out from the mainmemory 11a. The picture data to which the designated picture processinghas been implemented by the picture processing circuit 12 is deliveredto the monitor unit 9. Thus, picture image to which the designatedpicture processing has been implemented is displayed on the monitor unit9. In addition, the picture processing controller 14 delivers dataindicating picture processing implemented to the picture data (pictureprocessing information) to the thinning and compression/expansionprocessing block 4 through the interface 15 and the bus line 7.

2-4 [Description of the operation of the thinning andcompression/expansion processing block]

Then, user confirms by the picture image displayed on the monitor unit 9as to whether or not corresponding picture image is desired one, wherebyin the case where the corresponding picture image is desired one, userdesignates recording of the picture image displayed on the monitor unit9 by operation of the operation unit 10.

The system controller 6 shown in FIG. 1 is operative so that whendesignation of recording is made by operation of the operation unit 10,it detects this operation to deliver data indicating that designation ofthe recording has been made and the picture processing information inthe case where such information exists to the thinning andcompression/expansion controller 4i of the thinning andcompression/expansion processing block 4 through the bus line 7 and theinterface 4a shown in FIG. 5.

The thinning and compression/expansion controller 4i is operative sothat in the case where the picture processing information exists, itcontrols the interface 4a so as to temporarily store such data and tocarry out taking-in of the high resolution picture data. When the highresolution picture data is taken into the thinning andcompression/expansion processing block through the interface 4a, it istemporarily stored into the buffer 4b. When the high resolution picturedata is stored into the buffer 4b, the thinning andcontraction/expansion controller 4i allows the buffer 4b to undergoread-out control so as to deliver the high resolution picture data tothe 1/4 thinning circuit 4c and the selector 4f, e.g., every line.

The 1/4 thinning circuit 4c implements a thinning processing such that(the number of) pixels of the higher resolution picture data is reducedto one fourth (1/4) to thereby form intermediate resolution picture dataof 480 pixels × 640 pixels to deliver it to the memory 4d. The thinningand compression/expansion controller 4i is operative so that when theintermediate resolution picture data is delivered to the memory 4d, itcontrols the memory 4d so as to temporarily store such picture data andto read out it. The intermediate resolution picture data which has beenread out from the memory 4d is delivered to the 1/60 thinning circuit 4eand the selector 4f.

The 1/60 thinning circuit 4e implements a thinning processing such that(the number of) pixels of the intermediate resolution picture data whichhas been read out from the memory 4d is reduced to one sixtieth (1/60)to thereby form low resolution picture data of 60 pixels × 80 pixels(picture data for index) to deliver it to the selector 4f.

The selector 4f is subject to switching control by the thinning andcompression/expansion controller 4i. Namely, the thinning andcompression/expansion controller 4i allows the selector 4f to undergoswitching control, e.g., so as to select picture data of respectiveresolutions delivered to the selector 4f in order of high resolutionpicture data, intermediate resolution picture data and low resolutionpicture data to output selected one. The picture data of respectiveresolutions from the selector 4f are delivered to the raster/blockconverting circuit 4g.

The raster/block converting circuit 4g divides the respective picturedata into, e.g., processing block units of 8 pixels × 8 pixels which areprocessing unit of compression encoding to deliver them to thecompression/expansion circuit 4h.

As stated above, the picture data of respective resolutions are dividedinto processing block units of 8 pixels × 8 pixels at the raster/blockconverting circuit 4g. In this case, the low resolution picture data haspicture size of 60 pixels × 80 pixels. For this reason, when attempt ismade to divide the low resolution picture data into processing blockunits of 8 pixels × 8 pixels, because the number of pixels in alongitudinal direction cannot be divided by eight (8) (60 pixels 8pixels=7.5 pixels), it is impossible to divide the low resolutionpicture data in the processing block units of 8 pixels×8 pixels. Fromfacts as described above, the raster/block converting circuit 4g isoperative so that when the low resolution picture data is deliveredthereto, it adds dummy data of 4 pixels×80 pixels to the upper row(line) side or the lower row (line) side of the picture data to therebyallow the low resolution picture data of 60 pixels × 80 pixels to be lowresolution picture data of 64 pixels×80 pixels. By such a processing,the number of pixels in the longitudinal direction can be divided byeight (8). Thus, the raster/block converting circuit 4g divides the lowresolution picture data of 64 pixels × 80 pixels into 8 processingblocks 10 processing blocks × to deliver them to thecompression/expansion circuit 4h. It is to be noted that since the dummydata is eliminated in the index display, there is no possibility thatpictures according to the dummy data (e.g., black pictures or whitepictures) are displayed in the state added to the index picture.

The compression/expansion circuit 4h is composed of Discrete CosineTransform circuit (DCT circuit), quantizing circuit, and fixed lengthencoding circuit which are not shown. Accordingly, the picture data ofrespective resolutions are first delivered to the DCT circuit.

The DCT circuit carries out orthogonal transform processing to transformthe picture data of respective resolutions into picture data on thefrequency base to form DCT coefficients, thus to deliver, to thequantizing circuit, those picture data of respective resolutions towhich the orthogonal transform processing has been implemented.

The quantizing circuit carries out quantization processing of thepicture data of respective resolutions by using, e.g., suitablequantization coefficients set by the system controller 6 to deliverquantized picture data to the fixed length encoding circuit.

The fixed length encoding circuit implements fixed length encodingprocessing to DCT coefficients of the picture data of respectiveresolutions quantized by the suitable quantization coefficients to feedthe result of fixed length encoding processing back to the thinning andcompression/expansion controller 4i. The thinning andcompression/expansion controller 4i forms quantization coefficientsoptimum for quantizing that picture data in accordance with the resultof the fixed length encoding processing to deliver them to thequantizing circuit. The quantizing circuit carries out quantization ofthe picture data by using the optimum quantization coefficients set forthe second time to deliver it to the fixed length encoding circuit.Thus, at the fixed length encoding circuit, picture data of respectiveresolutions are permitted to undergo fixed length encoding so that theyhave predetermined data length.

In more practical sense, by such compression encoding processing, theintermediate resolution picture data is caused to undergo fixed lengthencoding processing so that it has data length of 2 clusters twicegreater than one cluster which is one recording unit, the highresolution picture data is caused to undergo fixed length encodingprocessing so that it has data length of 8 clusters, and the lowresolution picture data is caused to undergo fixed length encodingprocessing so that it has data length of 1/15 clusters. The picture dataof respective resolutions which have been caused to undergo fixed lengthencoding in this way are delivered to the storage unit 5 shown in FIG. 6through the interface 4a and the bus line 7. In addition, in the casewhere picture processing information is added to the delivered picturedata as described above, the thinning and compression/expansioncontroller 4i delivers the picture processing information to the storageunit 5 along with the picture data of respective resolutions.

2-5 [Description of the operation of the storage unit]

Picture data of respective resolutions and picture processinginformation from the thinning and compression/expansion processing block4 are delivered to the interface 5a shown in FIG. 6. The storage unitcontroller 5d is operative so that when the picture data of respectiveresolutions and the picture processing information are delivered to theinterface 5a, it controls the interface 5a so as to take them into thestorage unit 5. The picture data of respective resolutions and thepicture processing information which have been taken into the storageunit 5 through the interface 5a are delivered to the EFM circuit 5b.When the picture data of respective resolutions and the pictureprocessing information are delivered to the EFM circuit 5b, the storageunit controller 5d controls the EFM circuit 5b so as to implement socalled EFM processing (8-14 modulation processing) to the picture dataof respective resolutions and the picture processing information whichhave been caused to undergo fixed length encoding. The picture data ofrespective resolutions and the picture processing information which havebeen caused to undergo EFM processing are delivered to the discrecording/reproducing section 5c. When the picture data of respectiveresolutions and the picture processing information are delivered to thedisc recording/reproduction section 5c, the storage unit controller 5dcontrols the disc recording/reproduction section 5c so as to record thepicture data of respective resolutions and the picture processinginformation onto the optical disc 20. Thus, the picture data ofrespective resolutions and the picture processing information thereofare recorded onto the optical disc 20.

In more practical sense, the optical disc 20 is, e.g., magneto-opticaldisc having diameter of 64 mm, and is adapted so that picture datacorresponding to 200 pictures (frames) can be rewritten any number oftimes every respective resolutions. Further, the picture datacorresponding to 200 pictures are caused to undergo management in thestate divided into four albums in total with picture data correspondingto 50 pictures being as one picture directory. Accordingly, in the casewhere user carries out recording of such picture data, he selectspicture directory into which corresponding picture data is recorded byusing the operation unit 10. Thus, the system controller 6 controls thedisc recording/reproduction section 5c through the storage unitcontroller 5d so as to record, in order of taking-in, the picture dataof respective resolutions into the picture directory selected by theuser.

It is to be noted that, in this instance, the low resolution picturedata are recorded as index file for index for displaying a plurality ofpictures recorded in the picture directory within one picture on screen,the intermediate resolution picture data are recorded as intermediateresolution picture file for monitor display for displaying a desired onepicture recorded in the picture directory, and the high resolutionpicture data are recorded as high resolution picture file for print forcarrying out print of picture according to the high resolution picturedata.

3 [Description of the format of the optical disc]

The optical disc 20 on which picture data of respective resolutions arerecorded as described above has a novel picture recording format asdescribed below.

3-1 [Cluster structure]

Recording and reproduction (playback) is carried out with respect to theoptical disc 20 with "cluster" being as one unit. One clustercorresponds to, e.g., two to three rounds (circumferences) of tracks.These clusters are recorded continuously in point of time, whereby onedata track is formed. The one cluster consists of the subdata area of 4sectors (one sector is 2352 bytes) and the main data area of 32 sectors.Addresses are recorded every respective one sectors.

It is to be noted that the areas in which data are actually recordedwithin respective sectors are the area of 2048 bytes of the 2352 bytes,and header data by synchronization (sync) pattern or address, etc., anderror correction code, etc. are recorded in the area of the remainingbytes.

In the subdata area of four (4) sectors, subdata or linking dataindicating that successive data is recorded in another area in the casewhere the successive data is recorded in another area, etc., arerecorded.

In addition, into the main data area of 32 sectors, TOC data, audio(speech) data and picture data, etc. are recorded.

3-2 [Track structure]

The entire area of the optical disc 20 is composed, as shown in FIG.8(a), of pit area in which data are recorded by emboss pits andmagneto-optical (MO) area in which grooves are provided and data aresubjected to recording/reproduction by the magneto-optical system.

The pit area is caused to serve as reproduction (playback) onlymanagement area in which P-TOC (Premastered Table Of Contents) which ismanagement information recorded on the optical disc 20 is recorded, andP-TOC sectors which will be described later are repeatedly recordedtherewithin.

The MO area is the area from immediately after the lead-in area of thedisc innermost circumference side up to the termination of the lead-outarea of the disc outermost circumference side. Moreover, the area fromimmediately after the lead-in area up to the area immediately before thelead-out area of the disc outermost circumference side of the MO area iscaused to be recordable area.

The recordable area consists of recording/reproduction (playback)management area formed at the leading portion of the recordable area,and recordable user area formed from immediately after therecording/reproduction management area up to immediately before thelead-out area.

The recording/reproduction (playback) management area is adapted so thatU-TOC which is TOC for management of recording/reproduction (playback)is recorded. Moreover, the area except for the U-TOC within therecording/reproduction management area is used as calibration area forcarrying out trial writing in order to adjust laser power of the opticalpick-up. Recording position of U-TOC within the recording/reproductionarea is indicated by the P-TOC. The U-TOCs are recorded continuously bythree clusters at a predetermined position within therecording/reproduction (playback) management area.

The recordable user area is of a structure in which data track where theabove-described picture data of respective resolutions are recorded, anda free area caused to undergo management as recordable area (not yetrecorded area) of picture data are arranged (allocated) in orderrespectively from the disc inner circumference side to the disc outercircumference side.

At the data track, data file including picture data indicated as "f1","f2", . . . "f5" in FIG. 8(a), for example, and "data U-TOC" forcarrying out management of the respective data files are recorded.

It is sufficient that the data U-TOC may be recorded at any positionwithin the recordable area. In this still picture filing system, thedata U-TOC is recorded immediately before data file f1 which is datafile serving as the disc innermost circumferential side of therespective data files of the picture data.

Further, as shown in FIG. 8(b), the P-TOC recorded in therecording/reproduction management area carries out management of therecording/reproduction management area where the data U-TOCs arerecorded and the entirety of data tracks where the above-describedpicture data of respective resolutions are recorded.

In addition, the data U-TOC carries out, as shown in FIG. 8(c),management, in cluster units, respective data files f1, f2 . . . f5within the data track and free area not yet recorded block within thedata track.

3-3 [Configuration of Data track]

The configuration of the data track where respective data files FL1,FL2, FL3 including the picture data and data U-TOC are recorded will nowbe described with reference to FIGS. 9(a-9(c). As described above,management of the data track is carried out as parts (track portionwhere a series of data physically continuous on the disc are recorded),and managements of respective data files recorded within data track arecarried out by data U-TOC recorded within the data track.

As shown in FIG. 9(a), the data U-TOC is recorded at the physicallyleading position of the data track. Namely, data U-TOC is recorded atthe position closer to the innermost disc inner circumferential sidewithin the data track. In the case where the data track is separatedinto plural parts, data U-TOC is recorded at the leading portion of theparts located at the innermost disc circumferential side.

This data U-TOC consists of boot area of one (1) cluster and volumemanagement area of sixteen (16) clusters as shown in FIG. 9(b).Moreover, the area succeeding to the data U-TOC is caused to be fileextents area. In this file extents area, data files FL1 to FL3 includingpicture data, etc. are recorded as shown in FIG. 9(a). Moreover, datafiles can be further recorded in the unrecorded or not yet recordedblock EB.

The volume management area consists of 512 management blocks of 0 to 511as shown in FIG. 9(c). Data area in one management block is 2048 bytes,and respective data recorded in the management block are caused to serveas management information for recording/reproduction (playback) of thedata file.

Namely, in respective 512 management blocks, block numbers of 0 to 511are attached thereto, and the management block of the block number 0 isused as "volume descriptor VD". In this case, "volume" is unit includingall parts where general data including picture data are recorded.Further, the management block of the block number 1 is used as "volumespace bitmap VS", and the management blocks of the block numbers 2 and 3are used as the management table MT2. Management block of the blocknumber 4 and management blocks succeeding thereto are used as "directoryrecord block DRB", and "extents record block ERB" in dependency upon usemode (form), etc. of the file extents area.

Respective management blocks of the management area have size of onelogical block. (This area is the area where data are actually recordedwithin one sector, and consists of 2048 bytes. For example, 32 sectorsbecome 32 logical blocks.). In the case where data is recorded into themanagement area and is reproduced therefrom, this logical block(management block) is caused to be minimum unit forrecording/reproduction, and is caused to be management unit within themanagement area.

On the other hand, in the case of recording picture data into the fileextents area, allocation block of one logical cluster size is caused tobe minimum unit for recording/reproduction, and is caused to bemanagement unit within the file extents area.

It is to be noted that "logical block" is unit actually used as the datarecording area within one cluster and consists of 32 sectors. Moreover,"allocation block" indicates the same data unit as the logical cluster.In the case of this example, one logical cluster size is represented asone allocation block. Accordingly, the number of clusters and the numberof allocation blocks on the disc are in correspondence with each other.In addition, positions of files on the disc are all designated byallocation block No. of the allocation block.

3-4 [Volume descriptor]

The leading management block in the volume management area is used asvolume descriptor VD. This volume descriptor VD serves to carry outbasic management of data track (volume) on the disc, and is composed, asshown in FIG. 10, of header where synchronization pattern and address isrecorded and data area of 2048 bytes where various managementinformation are recorded.

At the portion from the second byte to the sixth byte of the data areaof the volume descriptor VD, character data of "PIC-MD" is recorded,e.g., by ASCII code, as identification information (ID) indicating thatcorresponding sector is sector of volume descriptor. Succeedingly to theidentification information, version ID of this system, logical blocksize, logical cluster size and allocation block size are recorded.

In more practical sense, as the "logical block size", byte lengthindicating actual data area within the sector of the data track isrecorded. The sector of the data track is 2352 bytes, and 2048 bytesthereof is allocated as the data area. For this reason, "2048" which isthe byte length of the logical block is recorded as the logical blocksize. It is to be noted that this logical block is caused to serve asminimum recording unit for carrying out recording/reproduction withinthe management area.

Moreover, as the "logical cluster size", there are recorded the numberof logical blocks of the logical cluster which is the cluster wheremanagement information and/or data are actually recorded. Further, onecluster is caused to consist of 36 sectors. Since 32 sectors (32 logicalblocks) among these sectors are allocated for data recording. For thisreason, "32" which is block length of the logical cluster is recorded asthe logical cluster size.

The number of logical blocks in the allocation block is recorded as the"allocation block size". The allocation block indicates the same dataunit as the logical cluster, and is the portion in which managementinformation and/or data file are actually recorded in the data track.For example, the area of 32 sectors as the logical cluster in the volumemanagement area or the file extents area shown in FIG. 9(b) correspondsto one allocation block. It is to be noted that this allocation block iscaused to be minimum unit for recording/reproduction within the fileextents area.

Subsequently to the allocation block size, the "total number ofallocation blocks" indicating total number of allocation blocks withinthe volume is recorded. It is to be noted in the case of the so-calledhybrid disc where audio data and picture data are mixed, the totalnumber of allocation blocks including the number of allocation blocks inthe pit area is recorded as the total number of allocation blocks.

Moreover, the "number of allocation blocks" is recorded subsequently tothe total number of allocation blocks. This number of allocation blocksindicates total number of recordable allocation blocks, and the numberof allocation blocks in the recordable area is recorded. In the casewhere the optical disc 20 is the premastered disc, "0" (zero) isrecorded as the number of allocation blocks.

Moreover, the "number of unrecorded allocation blocks" (which have notyet been recorded) is recorded subsequently to the number of allocationblocks. The number of unrecorded allocation blocks indicates the numberof allocation blocks which have not yet been recorded of the recordableallocation blocks within the volume.

Further, "the number of allocation blocks already recorded" is recordedsubsequently to the number of unrecorded allocation blocks. This numberof recorded allocation blocks indicates the number of allocation blockswhich have been already recorded of the recordable allocation blockswithin the volume.

Furthermore, the "number of defect allocation blocks" is recordedsubsequently to the number of recorded allocation blocks. This number ofdefect allocation blocks indicates the number of allocation blocksincluding defect such as crack or flaw, etc. on the disc.

In addition, the "number of directories" indicating number ofdirectories within the volume and "data file" indicating the number ofdata files within volume are respectively recorded subsequently to thenumber of defect allocation blocks.

Subsequently to the number of directories and the data file, "ID maximumvalue" is recorded. This ID maximum value indicates maximum value of IDnumbers attached in order such that directories or data files areformed.

Subsequently to the ID maximum value, "volume attribute" is recorded.This volume attribute indicates attribute of data recorded in the volumemanagement area. For example, volume attribute data indicating whetheror not the volume management is area recorded in the mirror mode,whether or not corresponding file is invisible file (secret file),whether or not the present state is in the write protect state(protection of write), whether or not back-up is required, and the likeare recorded.

Subsequently to the volume attribute, "volume management area length" isrecorded. This volume management area length indicates length of thevolume management area, and byte length of the volume management area isrecorded.

Subsequently to the volume management area length, "volume managementarea position" is recorded. This volume management area positionindicates the position of the volume management area on the disc, andfirst allocation block No. of the volume management area is recorded.

Subsequently to the volume management area position, other managementblocks formed as the result of the fact that management block within thevolume management area is recorded are recorded. In more practicalsense, as other management blocks, "volume space bitmap position"indicating position of the first allocation block of the volume spacebitmap VS, "number of volume space bitmaps" indicating the number ofallocation blocks of the volume space bitmap VS, "First management tableposition" indicating position of the first allocation block of themanagement table MT, and "number of management tables" indicating thenumber of allocation blocks of the management table MT are recorded.Moreover, "first extent record block position" indicating position ofthe first allocation block of the extent record block ERB, "number ofextent record blocks" indicating the number of allocation blocks of theextent record block ERB, "first directory record block position"indicating position of the first allocation block of the directoryrecord block DRB, and "number of directory record blocks" indicating thenumber of allocation blocks of the directory record block are recorded.

Thus, it is possible to retrieve position of the first directory bydetecting block No. of the allocation block recorded as the "firstdirectory record block".

Subsequently to the respective management blocks, "root directorylength" indicating byte length of directory and "number of rootdirectories" indicating the number of subdirectories within thedirectory are respectively recorded. Subsequently thereto, various IDand character set codes, etc. are recorded. As the various ID andcharacter set codes, e.g., boot system ID, volume ID, publisher ID, dataprepare ID, application ID and character set codes of the respective IDare recorded. In addition to the above, volume formation date, volumeupdating date, expiring date, and effective data, etc. are recorded.

Subsequently such data area of 2048 bytes, EDC area of 4 bytes and ECCarea of 276 bytes are provided. In the ECC area, P parity of 172 bytesand Q parity of 104 bytes based on the so called cross interleavingsystem are respectively recorded.

In this example, the data area has an area of 2048 bytes, and the areaof 1024 to 2047 bytes of the data area of 2048 bytes is used as systemextension area for system extension.

3-5 [Volume space bitmap]

Management block of the block No. 1 in the volume management area isused as volume space bitmap VS. This volume space bitmap VS indicatesrecording state of the file extents area in all allocation block unitsof the data track.

The volume space bitmap VS is composed, as shown in FIG. 11, of headerin which synchronization (Sync) pattern and address are recorded, dataarea of 2048 bytes, and ECC area of 276 bytes in total of P parity of172 bytes and Q parity of 104 bytes.

Allocation blocks and types of respective allocation blocks are recordedin the data area.

In more practical sense, as shown in FIG. 12(a), allocation blocknumbers (AL0, AL1, AL2 . . . ) are respectively attached in order ofnumber 0, number 1, number 2 to the respective allocation blocks of thedata track. The seventh and sixth bits of the 0-th byte which is thefirst byte of the data area of the volume space bitmap VS are allocatedto the allocation block AL0 of number 0. Moreover, 2 bits arerespectively allocated every respective allocation blocks in such amanner that the fifth bit and the fourth bit of the 0-th byte areallocated to allocation block AL1 of the number 1, the third bit and thesecond bit are allocated to the allocation block AL2 of the number 2,the first bit and the 0th bit are allocated to the allocation block AL3of the number 3, and the seventh bit and the sixth bit of the first byteare allocated to the allocation block AL4 of the number 4.

The information of 2 bits respectively allocated every respectiveallocation blocks indicate types of respective allocation blocks, andare as shown in FIG. 12(b) such that "00" is recorded in the case wherecorresponding allocation block is unrecorded or not yet recordedallocation blocks, "01" is recorded in the case where it is alreadyrecorded allocation blocks, "10" is recorded in the case where it isdefect allocation blocks, and "11" is recorded in the case where it isundefined or not yet defined allocation blocks.

It is to be noted that, in the remainder area of the data area, i.e.,the area in which corresponding block does not exist, "11" is recorded.

In addition, the optical disc 20 has data area of 2200 clusters so thatinformation can be recorded in allocation blocks from AL0 up to AL8191.However, in practice, information are recorded by using allocationblocks of AL0 up to AL2199 thereof.

3-6 [Management table]

Management blocks of the block No. 2 and the block No. 3 in the volumemanagement area are used as the management table MT.

This management table MT indicates use mode (form) of respectivemanagement blocks in the volume management area, and is composed, asshown in FIG. 13, of header in which synchronization pattern and addressare recorded, data area of 2048 bytes, EDC area of four bytes, and ECCarea of 276 bytes. In the data area of 2048 bytes, respective managementblock 0 entry to the management block 511 entry to which 4 bytes arerespectively allocated are recorded. Thus, use contents of 512management blocks of the volume management area are respectivelyindicated and are caused to undergo management.

The data content of respective entries having 4 bytes (0 entry to 511entry) is as shown in FIGS. 14(a)-14(h).

Initially, the first management block (management block 0) is used asthe volume descriptor as shown in FIG. 14(a), and the 0-th byte to thesecond byte are reserved. Further, as entry type for indicating that themanagement block 0 entry is volume descriptor, e.g., "80h" is recorded.

Moreover, the second management block (management block 1 entry) is usedas the volume space bitmap as shown in FIG. 14(b). The number ofunrecorded allocation blocks is recorded in the area of the 0-th byte tothe first byte, and the second byte is reserved. In addition, as entrytype for indicating that the management block 1 entry is volume spacebitmap, e.g., "90h" is recorded at the third byte.

In the management block used as the management table, as shown in FIG.14(c), position of the next management table is recorded in the area of0-th byte to the first byte, and the number of unused or not yet usedmanagement blocks is recorded at the second byte. Further, as entry typefor indicating that corresponding management block is management table,e.g., "AOh" is recorded at the third byte.

In the management block used as extents record block, as shown in FIG.14(d), position of the next extent record block is recorded in the areafrom the 0-th byte to the first byte, and the number of unused or notyet used extent record blocks is recorded at the second byte. Inaddition, as entry type for indicating that corresponding managementblock is extent record block, e.g., "BOh" is recorded at the third byte.

As the directory record block, there exist "single directory recordblock" completed by directory record unit recorded by one managementblock and used by itself, and "plural directory record blocks" which areused so that they are recorded in the state where directory record unitconstituting single directory is divided into plural directory recordblocks which are plural management blocks.

In the case where the management block is used as single directoryrecord block, in the corresponding management block, as shown in FIG.14(e), directory ID is recorded in the area of 0-th to 29-th bits, and,e.g., "00h" is recorded in the last 2 bits (in the area of the 30-th bitto the 31-th bit) as entry type for indicating that the correspondingmanagement block is single directory record block.

Moreover, in the case of plural directory record blocks, information asshown in FIGS. 14(f) to 14(h) are respectively recorded in respectivemanagement blocks.

Namely, in the case where corresponding management block is "firstdirectory record block (first directory record block)" of the pluraldirectory blocks, as shown in FIG. 14(f), position of the next directoryrecord block is recorded in the area from the 0-th byte to the firstbyte, and higher order byte of directory ID is recorded at the secondbyte. In addition, as entry type for indicating that correspondingmanagement block is the first directory record block, "DOh" is recordedat the third byte.

In the case where corresponding management block is the "last directoryrecord block" of plural directory record blocks, as shown in FIG. 14(h),lower order byte of directory ID is recorded in the area from the 0-thbyte to the second, byte. In addition, as entry type for indicating thatcorresponding management block is the last directory record block, "FOh"is recorded at the third byte.

In the case where corresponding management block is intermediatedirectory record blocks of the plural directory record blocks (in thecase where corresponding management block is directory record blockexcept for the first and last directory record blocks) of pluraldirectory record blocks, as shown in FIG. 14(g), position of the nextdirectory record block is recorded in the area from the 0-th byte to thefirst bytes, and the second byte is reserved. In addition, as entry typefor indicating that corresponding management block is the intermediatedirectory record block, "EOh" is recorded at the third byte.

3-7 [Directory record block]

Management block of the block No. 3 and management blocks succeeding(subsequent) thereto in the volume management area are used as"directory record block DRB". In the directory record block DRB, one orplural directory record units are recorded.

As the directory record unit, there are "directory record unit fordirectory" for constituting directory and "directory record unit forfile" for designating, in correspondence with certain data file, theposition thereof, etc. In the directory record block, in accordance withfile and subdirectory formed within the directory, directory record unitfor file and directory record unit for directory are recorded in themixed state.

The directory record block DRB in which directory record unit fordirectory constituting directory is recorded is composed, as shown inFIG. 15, of header in which synchronization pattern and address arerecorded, data area of 2048 bytes, EDC area of 4 bytes, and ECC area of276 bytes.

Into one directory record unit, directory record length indicating bytelength of corresponding directory record unit is first recorded. Thedata length of one directory record unit is caused to be variablelength.

Subsequently to the directory record length, attribute of directory isrecorded. In more practical sense, as this attribute of directory,information indicating various attributes, such as, for example, whetheror not corresponding directory record unit is directory record unit fordirectory, whether directory within which corresponding directory recordunit is included is invisible directory or system directory, etc. arerecorded. Thus, whether or not position of data file is indicated byusing extents record block which will be described later is indicated.

Subsequently to the attribute of the directory, character set code (CSC)indicating character kind of the short name ID and the short name ID arerecorded. The short name ID is recorded by ASCII codes of 11 bytes.Directory name of 11 characters or less can be recorded into the shortname ID.

Subsequently to the short name ID, directory formation date anddirectory updating date are recorded, and updating date of the directoryrecord unit is recorded as status updating date. Further, directory IDNo. and directory length are recorded. Subsequently thereto, "Index toDRB" and "No. of DRB" are recorded.

The index to DRB indicates position within the volume management area inthe first directory record block DRB in which the content of thedesignated subdirectory is recorded. For this reason, as the index toDRB, any one value of management numbers 0 to 511 is recorded.

As the No. of DRB, number of directory record blocks for indicating thedesignated directory is recorded by the number of management blocks.

Subsequently to the number of DRB, "long name ID" is recorded. This longname ID is variable length, and its data length is recorded. It is to benoted that while there are instances where long name ID is not recorded,"00h" is recorded as the long name ID at that time. Moreover, in thecase where long name ID is even bytes, "00h" is recorded as padding forfilling excess byte. Byte subsequent to the long name ID is utilized assystem extension area.

Directory record unit corresponding to directory is constituted asstated above, and plural directory record units are provided within dataarea of 2048 bytes.

The directory record block DRB in which directory record unit for filecorresponding to a certain data file is recorded is composed, as, shownin FIG. 16, of header consisting of synchronization pattern and address,data area of 2048 bytes, EDC area of 4 bytes, and ECC area of 276 bytes.

In the data area of 2048 bytes, one or plural directory record unitsrespectively corresponding to data files can be recorded.

Into one directory record unit, similarly to the directory record unitshown in FIG. 15, directory record length is first recorded andattribute is subsequently recorded. By this attribute, variousattributes such as whether corresponding directory record unitcorresponds to directory, whether or not corresponding data file isinvisible file or system file, or whether or not corresponding data fileposition is designated by extent record unit, etc. are indicated.

Subsequently to the attribute, similarly to the directory record unitshown in FIG. 15, character set code (CSC), short name ID for recordingfile name, directory formation (preparation) date, directory updatingdate and status updating date are recorded. As the short name ID, datafile name is recorded by ASCII code of 11 characters or less.

Subsequently to the short name ID, data file ID No. and data filelength, extent start location, No. of blocks, and associate data lengthare recorded.

This extent start location indicates position of file recorded in thefile extent area by allocation block No. Moreover, No. of blocksindicates the number of allocation blocks used from the start positiondesignated by the extent start location.

Subsequently to the associate data length, "index to ERB" and "No. ofERB" are recorded.

This index to ERB indicates position within volume management area ofextents record block including data for indicating respectivedistributed positions of data files recorded in a distributed manner,and management block numbers of 0 to 511 are recorded.

The No. of ERB indicates the number of extents record blocks forindicating the data file recorded in distributed manner, i.e.,dispersely recorded data file, and is recorded by the number ofmanagement blocks.

Subsequently to the No. of ERB, long name ID which is variable length isrecorded by the data length thereof. In the case where no long name IDis recorded, "00h" is recorded as the long name ID. In the case wherelong name ID is even bytes, "00h" is recorded as padding for fillingexcess or remainder bytes.

Bytes subsequent to the long name ID are utilized as system extensionarea.

Directory record unit corresponding to the data file is constituted asstated above, and such plural directory record units may be providedwithin the data area of 2048 bytes.

In recording data file such as picture file, etc. onto the disc, thereare two kinds of cases as described below. The method of designatingposition of data file changes in dependency upon respective cases.

The first case is the case where continuous space areas corresponding todata of picture files to be recorded can be ensured on the disc. In thiscase, picture file is recorded as single file in physically continuousareas. In more practical sense, in this case, recording is made so thatone picture file is constituted by continuous allocation blocks.Ordinarily, position of data file is indicated by allocation block No.recorded in physically continuous areas in this way and recorded asextent start location within the directory record unit for file.

The second case is the case where continuous space areas correspondingto data of picture files to be recorded cannot be ensured on the disc.In this case, one picture file is recorded, in a divided (distributed)manner, in the areas distributed on the disc. In more practical sense,one picture file is recorded so that it is constituted by pluralseparate allocation blocks. In this case, position within the managementarea of the extents record block which will be described later isdesignated by the management block No. recorded as index to ERB includedwithin the directory record unit for file, and positions of respectivedistributed areas are designated on the basis of data included withinthe extents record block.

It is to be noted that no data of index ERB is recorded in the firstcase, and no extent start location is recorded in the second case.

3-8 [Extent record block]

Management block of the block No. 4 and management blocks succeeding(subsequent) thereto within the volume management area can be used asextent record block ERB. This extent record block is used in the casewhere one picture file is recorded into distributed areas designated byseparate allocation blocks as in the above-described second case.Moreover, data for indicating allocation block positions of therespective distributed areas are recorded in the extent record blockERB.

In the extent record block ERB, 64 extent record units (ER units) can berecorded at the maximum.

The ER unit consists of ER unit for index of 32 bytes and ER unit fordescriptor of 32 bytes.

The ER unit for index is recorded as the leading unit of plural ER unitswithin the extent record block ERB, and thus serves to carry outmanagement of use state (situation) of the second ER unit and ER unitssucceeding thereto. The second ER unit and ER units succeeding theretoare used as ER unit for descriptor, and recording positions ofrespective distributed areas are indicated by allocation block number bydata included within these units.

Namely, as shown in FIG. 17, the extent record block ERB consists ofheader in which synchronization pattern and address are recorded, dataarea of 2048 bytes, EDC area of 4 bytes, and ECC area of 276 bytes.

In the data area of 2048 bytes, 64 extent record units can be recorded.In this example, one extent record unit is constituted by 32 bytes.

FIG. 17 shows the example where extent record unit of the first 32 bytesof the data area is used as extent record unit for index.

In the extent record unit for index, index ID is first recorded. In thiscase, as the index ID, "FFFF" indicating that corresponding extentrecord unit is used as extent record unit for index is recorded.

Subsequently to the index ID, maximum depth is recorded. Tree structureof extent record is formed by the extent record unit for index, and themaximum depth indicates subtree hierarchy designated by the extentrecord unit. For example, in the case where the extent record unitincluding extent descriptor is designated by extent record unit forindex, (in the case of the lowest layer (level)), "0000h" is recorded asthe maximum depth. Subsequently thereto, logical offsets and ER indicescan be recorded by seven at the maximum.

The ER index represents data indicating which ER unit of 64 ER unitsrecorded within the extent record block is data indicating thedistributed areas. Moreover, any one of ER unit numbers of 0 to 63 isrecorded in the ER index. Further, in the logical offset, dataindicating that ER unit indicated by the ER index corresponds to whichER unit of ER units for constituting data file is recorded.

In the example of FIG. 17, the second ER unit and ER units succeeding(subsequent) thereto are used as ER unit for descriptor.

In the ER unit for descriptor, eight extent start locations and eightnumbers of allocation blocks are recorded at the maximum.

As the extent start location, allocation block No. indicating recordingposition of one distributed area is recorded. Moreover, as the number ofallocation blocks, data indicating the number of allocation blocksconstituting corresponding distributed area is recorded. For thisreason, one distributed area is designated by one extent start locationand one number of allocation blocks. Accordingly, eight extent startlocations and the number of allocation blocks can be recorded in one DRunit for descriptor. For this reason, eight distributed areas at themaximum can be designated by one DR unit for descriptor.

Moreover, in the case where eight distributed areas or more aredesignated, it is sufficient that the third ER unit is newly used as ERunit for descriptor to link ER unit for descriptor succeeding(subsequent) to the ER unit for descriptor recorded in the second ERunit and ER unit for descriptor newly recorded in the third ER unit byusing the ER unit for index.

Explanation will now be given in connection with the case wherepositions of picture files recorded in plural distributed areas aredesignated by extent record block ERB in this way.

Initially, position within the management block area of extent recordblock ERB is designated by index to ERB recorded within the DR unit forfile in the directory record block DRB. Subsequently, data of "FFFF"indicating that corresponding extent record unit is used as extentrecord unit for index is recorded at the leading portion of the first ERunit of ERB. For this reason, by reproducing this data, the first ERunit can be judged as ER unit for index.

Further, in order to retrieve the first ER unit constituting the datafile, it is sufficient to retrieve data of logical offset expressed as"0000" to retrieve data of ER index corresponding to data of logicaloffset of "0000". As described above, eight distributed areas arerespectively designated by eight extent start locations and the numberof allocation blocks recorded in the ER unit for descriptor indicated bythe data of the ER index. For this reason, positions of respectivepicture files distributed on the disc can be detected by data within themanagement area. Accordingly, there is no necessity of retrieving thedisc in reading out picture file. Thus, high speed reproduction(playback) can be carried out.

4 [Description of file and the hierarchical structure of file]

As the file used in this still picture filing system, there aremanagement file, picture file, and index picture file, etc.

Expander (Expanding Operator) of file name of the management file is"PMF". When expander of "PMF" is detected, corresponding file isdiscriminated as management file. As the management file, there areoverall information management file (OVF₋₋ INF. PMF), picture datamanagement file (PIC₋₋ INF. PMF), print data management file (PRT₋₋ INF.PMF), and reproduction (playback) control management file (PMS₋₋ INF.PMF), etc.

Moreover, expanders of file names of respective picture files are "PMP".When this expander of "PMP" is detected, corresponding file isdiscriminated as picture file. As the picture file, there are highresolution picture file for recording high resolution picture data HD,and intermediate resolution picture file for recording intermediateresolution picture data SD.

As the high resolution picture file, as shown in FIG. 18(a), there are"PHPnnnnn. PMP file" having picture data of 1536 pixels × 1024 pixels ofaspect ratio of 3:2, and "PHWnnnnn. PMP file" having picture data of1920 pixels × 1080 pixels of aspect ratio of 16:9. Moreover, as file forrecording ultra (super) high resolution picture data UD as one of highresolution picture files, there is "PUPnnnnn. PMP file" having picturedata of 3072 pixels×2048 pixels of aspect ratio of 3:2.

As the intermediate resolution picture file, as shown in FIG. 18(b),there are "PSNnnnnn. PMP file" having picture data of 640 pixels × 480pixels of aspect ratio of 4:3 and "PSWnnnnn. PMP file" having picturedata of 848 pixels × 480 pixels of aspect ratio of 16:9.

It is to be noted that with respect to the file name of the picture filein which the expander is caused to be "PMP", the leading threecharacters (e.g., PHP, etc.) are determined by kind of picture, and fivecharacters (nnnnn) succeeding (subsequent) thereto are determined bypicture numbers given in order of formation (preparation) of picturefiles.

Moreover, expander of the index picture file used in this still picturefiling system is caused to be PMX. When it is detected that expander isPMX, corresponding file can be discriminated as index picture file. Thefile name of the index picture file is designated by PIDX nnn. PMX. Asshown in FIG. 18(c), 25 lower resolution picture data are contained(included) as index picture data within the index picture file. One lowresolution picture data consists of 60 pixels×80 pixels generated byallowing the intermediate resolution picture data of 640 pixels × 480pixels to undergo thinning into 1/80 so that the data rate is reduced.

This still picture filing system carries out management of picture datarecorded on the optical disc 20 by the hierarchical directory structure.This hierarchical directory structure is as shown in FIG. 19, whereindirectory D1 (PIC₋₋ MD) for recording picture data is provided, and filemanagement is carried out therewithin.

There are provided, within the directory D1, overall informationmanagement file f1 (OV₋₋ INF. PMF) for carrying out management of theentire information, overall index file f2 (OV₋₋ IDX. PMX) for carryingout management of the entire index file, and respective picturedirectories D2 to D4 (PIC00000 to PIC00002).

In this example, as the picture directory, respective picturedirectories (PIC00000) to (PIC00002) of directory numbers of "00000" to"00002" are provided. Five characters subsequent to "PIC" of respectivepicture directories are given as directory numbers in order of formationof respective picture directories. Thus, picture directory name isindicated.

Moreover, there are provided, within the directory (PIC₋₋ MD), printdirectory (PRINT) for carrying out management of print control data suchas hue (tint) of print, print size, and rotation, etc., Telop directory(TERO. PMO) for carrying out management of Telop such as title(caption), etc. of picture subjected to monitor display, key wordretrieval directory (KW₋₋ DTBS. PMO) attached to picture numbers ofrespective pictures or the respective pictures, time stamp directory(TS₋₋ DTBS. PMO) for carrying out management of recording date, etc. ofpicture, and reproduction (playback) control directory (PMSEQ) forcarrying out management of a program reproduction such that onlydesignated picture is reproduced.

In the picture directory D2 (PIC00000), picture data management file f3(PIC₋₋ INF. PMF) for carrying out management of plural picture filesdesignated by directory No. of "00000", and picture index file f4(PIDX000. PMX) in which index pictures of the corresponding picturedirectory D2 are collected are recorded. Moreover, in the picturedirectory D2, intermediate resolution picture file f5 (PSN00000. PMP)and high resolution picture file f6 (PHP00000. PMP) formed on the basisof picture data designated by "00000" of picture number are recorded.Further, intermediate resolution picture file f7 (PSN00001. PMP) andultra high resolution picture file f9 (PUP00001. PMP) formed on thebasis of picture file data designated by picture number of "00001" arerecorded. In addition, intermediate resolution picture file f10(PSN0002. PMP) formed on the basis of picture data designated by picturenumber of "00002" and intermediate resolution picture file f11 (PSN0003.PMP) formed on the basis of picture data designated by picture number of"00003" are recorded.

In the picture directory (PIC00001) designated by "00001" of directorynumber, the above-described picture data management file (PIC₋₋ INF.PMF) and two index files (PIDX000. PMX, PIDX001. PMX) for carrying outmanagement of index pictures of the respective pictures are recorded. Itis to be noted that index picture corresponding to picture file recordedin the picture directory (PIC00001) is caused to undergo management bythe two picture index files, and these two index files are used formallyin the state where they are linked with each other.

In the print directory (PRINT), print data management file (PRT₋₋ INF.PMF) for carrying out management of plural print data files and printdata file (PRT000. PM0 to PRT nnn. PM0) caused to undergo management bythe print data management file are recorded.

In the reproduction (playback) control directory (PMSEQ), reproductioncontrol management file (PMS₋₋ INF. PMF) for carrying out management ofreproduction control data file recorded in the reproduction controldirectory (PMSEQ) and plural reproduction control data files (PMS000.PM0 to PMS nnn. PM0) for controlling the picture sequence are recorded.

As has been explained with reference to the FIG. 9(c) mentioned above,block numbers of 0 to 511 are attached to the management blocks, andvolume descriptor VD, volume space bitmap VSB, management table MT,management table MT, directory record block DRB, directory record blockDRB, extents record block ERB, directory record block DRB, extentsrecord block ERB . . . are allocated in order from the block No. 0.

The directory record block DRB for indicating directory DI (PIC₋₋ MD) isadapted so that it can be discriminated by data of the volume descriptorVD that this block is the fourth block of the management block.

Namely, in FIG. 20, in the directory record block DRB recorded in thefourth block of the management block, two DR units for file forindicating recording positions of the overall information managementfile f1 and the overall index file f2 shown in FIG. 19 mentioned aboveare provided succeedingly (subsequently) to the header.

The DR unit for file recorded in the first unit indicates allocationblock position of the overall information management file f1 by theallocation block No. recorded as Extent Start Location. Moreover, the DRunit for file recorded in the second unit indicates allocation blockposition of the overall index file f2 by the allocation block No.recorded as Extent Start Location.

It is to be noted that since the overall information management file f1and the overall index file f2 are recorded in allocation blockscontinuous on the optical disc 20, they are not recorded in Index toERB.

In the third and fourth units which are the units succeeding to the twoDR unit for file, two DR units for directory for indicating recordingpositions of picture directory D2 indicated by the directory No. of"00000" and picture directory D3 indicated by the directory No. of"00001" are provided.

In more practical sense, in this DR unit for directory, relativeposition within the management block of DRB corresponding to picturedirectory D2 is indicated by management block numbers of 0 to 511recorded as "Index to DRB". In this example, in data of "Index to DRB"in the DR unit for directory of the third unit, "005" is recorded asdata indicating block position within the management block of index toDRB of the picture directory D2. Similarly, in data of Index to DRB ofDR unit for directory of the fourth unit, "007" is recorded as dataindicating block position within the management block of index to DRB ofthe picture directory D3.

As described above, block position of index to DRB of the fifth block ofthe management block is designated by DR unit for directory which is thethird unit in index to DRB of the fourth block of the management block.

Index to DRB of the fifth block is a block in which data relating topicture directory D2 is recorded. In this DRB, eight DR units for fileare provided succeedingly (subsequently) to the header. In seven DRunits for file of the first to seventh units, data for indicatingrecording positions of picture data management file f3, picture indexfile f4, intermediate resolution picture data file f5, high resolutionpicture data file f6, intermediate resolution picture data file f7,ultra high resolution picture data file f9, and intermediate resolutionpicture data file f10 are respectively recorded. Similarly to theabove-described DR unit for file, in respective DR units for file,recording positions of the picture data management file f3, the pictureindex file f4, the intermediate resolution picture data file f5, thehigh resolution picture data file f6 and the intermediate resolutionpicture data file f7 are respectively indicated by allocation blocknumbers recorded as Extent Start Location.

In the DR unit for file provided at the seventh unit, data forindicating recording position of the ultra high resolution picture datafile f9 is recorded. This ultra high resolution picture data file isrecorded into areas continuous by data length of, e.g., 18 clusters. Inthe case where continuous space areas corresponding to 18 clusters donot exist on the optical disc 20, this ultra high resolution picturefile is recorded in the state distributed into allocation blocks whichare not continuous. In the case where one file is recorded in thedistributed state in this way, an approach is adopted such that, withrespect to data of extent start location of the DR unit for file, extentrecord block ERB is provided between directory record block DRB andpicture file f9 to be designated without directly designating respectivedistributed areas of the file thus to designate positions of respectivedistributed areas of picture file by data of the extent record blockERB.

As has been explained with reference to the FIG. 17 mentioned above,four extent record units (ER units) are provided succeedingly(subsequently) to the header. In this example, 64 ER units can beprovided at the maximum.

The first ER unit is used as ER unit for index and the second and thirdER units are used as ER unit for descriptor. In the ER unit for index,index data relating to the second ER unit and ER units succeedingthereto are recorded. Moreover, in the ER unit for index, data of ERindex and logical offset are recorded by the number of ER units used arerecorded.

The ER index is data indicating which any one of 64 ER units exists, andis indicated by any one of ER unit Nos. of 0 to 63.

Moreover, the logical offset is data indicating that ER unit indicatedby ER index is data indicating which any of ER units that constitute onefile.

In the ER unit for descriptor, eight Extent Start positions and eightnumbers of Extent blocks can be respectively recorded.

The extent start position is data for indicating start position of thedistributed area, and is represented by allocation block No. Moreover,the number of Extent blocks is data for indicating data length of thedistributed area, and is represented by the number of allocation blocks.For this reason, it is possible to designate eight distributed areas onthe basis of data of Extent start position and the number of Extentblocks by one ER unit for descriptor.

Namely, as shown in FIG. 21, data of "FFFF" indicating ER unit for indexis recorded at the leading portion of the first ER unit. In order toretrieve the first ER unit constituting data of the ultra highresolution picture data file f9, it is sufficient to retrieve theportion where data of logical offset is expressed as "0000". Since "2"is recorded as data of ER index corresponding to "0000" of logicaloffset in the ER unit for index, it is possible to detect that thesecond ER unit is the first ER unit constituting data of the file f9.

When reference is made to the second ER unit (ER unit for descriptor),it is seen that the start position of the first divisional area of thefile f9 is "0152" in terms of the allocation No., and data length of thefirst divisional area is "0002" in terms of the number of allocationblocks. Similarly, in the ER unit for descriptor, data relating to thesecond divisional area to the eighth divisional area are recorded insuccession.

Then, "0001" which is the next data of the logical offset "0000" in theindex for index is retrieved as data subsequent to the ER unit fordescriptor which is the second ER record. Since data of the ER index inwhich logical offset is expressed as "0001" is recorded as "3", it isindicated that the third ER unit exists as data continuous to the secondER unit.

When reference is made to the third ER unit (ER unit for descriptor),allocation block Nos. indicating start positions of the ninthdistributed area and the tenth distributed area and the number ofallocation blocks indicating data length are respectively recorded.

As stated above, respective allocation block positions of distributedareas distributed into 10 areas are indicated by the ER unit fordescriptor of extent record block ERB. For this reason, even in the casewhere one file is recorded in distributed manner, it is possible tograsp positions of respective distributed areas within the managementblock having extent record block ERB. For this reason, also in the casewhere distributed respective areas are continuously reproduced from theoptical disc 20 as one file, there is no necessity of respectivelyretrieving, on the disc, respective distributed areas on the disc. Thus,high speed reproduction (playback) can be made.

It is to be noted that such distribution recording of picture file isnot limited to the time of recording of the above-described ultra highresolution picture file, but may be carried out also in the case wherethe unrecorded (not yet recorded) area on the disc is reduced as theresult of the fact that recording of picture file is repeated, socontinuous space areas corresponding predetermined number of clusterscorresponding to picture files of respective resolutions cannot beensured.

5 [Configuration of file]

The respective files consist of header and data body. Start address ofthe data body is prescribed (provided) by the header. The data bodystarts from, e.g., address of multiple of 4. With respect to data of 2bytes or more, preference is given to higher order byte. Moreover, thedata size is caused to be multiple of 4 except for respective picturedata which have been caused to fixed length encoding (including dummydata of 00h added when the above-described low resolution picture datais subjected to raster/block conversion), and character train isterminated with null data (00h). It is to be noted that there may beemployed a configuration in which space area is provided between theheader and the data body.

5-1 [Configuration of the header]

The header consists of a plurality of tables. "Format table" indicatingwhat corresponding file is allocated to the leading portion, and optiontables such as the picture processing information, etc. are allocated inan arbitrary order. The respective tables are started from, e.g.,address of multiple of 4, and the interval between the table and thenext table is 256 bytes or less. It is to be noted that there may beemployed a configuration in which space data exists between the tableand the next table.

In more practical sense, as kind of the table, there exist format table(10h), name table (11h), comment table (12h), disc ID table (14h),picture parameter table (20h), recording information table (21h), colormanagement parameter table (22h), and option table (90h), etc. (symbolwithin the parenthesis is identification symbol (ID) of each table).

5-2 [Format table]

The format table consists, as shown in FIG. 22, of table ID (1 byte),next table pointer (1 byte), format version (2 bytes), file form (1byte), file form version (1 byte), the number of all tables (1 byte),space area (reserved: 1 byte), data start address (4 bytes), data size(4 bytes), and space area (reserved: 4 bytes). They are all recorded inbinary (B) data form.

Moreover, as "file form" recorded by 1 byte, the above-described overallinformation management file is recorded by "00h", the picture datamanagement file is recorded by "01h", the print data management file isrecorded by "03h", the reproduction control management file is recordedby "05h", the picture data file is recorded by "10h", the overall indexfile is recorded by "11h", and the picture index file is recorded by"12h". In addition, the print data file is recorded by "30h", Telop datafile is recorded by "32h", the key word retrieval data file is recordedby "33h", the time stamp retrieval data file is recorded by "34h", andthe reproduction control data file is recorded by "35h".

5-3 [Picture parameter table]

This picture parameter table is recorded into the headers of respectivepicture files for recording high resolution picture data andintermediate resolution picture file data, and the picture processinginformation relating to the original picture data which provide basis ofthe high resolution picture data and the intermediate resolution picturedata are recorded as parameter.

In this still picture filing system, high resolution picture data andintermediate resolution picture data are formed on the basis of originalpicture data taken from scanner, etc., and are recorded as highresolution picture file and intermediate resolution picture file.However, since the original picture itself is not recorded on the discby any means, there is no possibility that the original picture data isleft. However, it is possible to recognize, on the basis of data of thepicture parameter table recorded in the header of the picture file, howthe original picture which provides basis of the high resolution picturedata is recorded, and how it is processed so that high resolutionpicture data and intermediate resolution picture data are formed.Accordingly, in order to allow information relating to the originalpicture data to be left, data of these picture parameter tables arerecorded into the header of the picture file along with the picturedata, and are not caused to undergo rewrite operation.

In the picture parameter table, as shown in FIG. 23, table ID of 1 byte,next table pointer of 1 byte, picture size (lateral size) of 2 bytes,picture size (longitudinal size) of 2 bytes, picture component of 1byte, length and breadth discrimination of 1 byte, wide ID of 1 byte,compression rate of corresponding picture data of 1 byte,copyright/editorial right information of 1 byte, and input equipment IDinformation of 1 byte are recorded. In addition, space area (reserved)of 3 bytes and information indicating presence or absence of the dummydata of 1 byte, etc. are recorded.

The "Picture size" is information indicating size of the number ofpixels of picture. Moreover, the "Picture component" is such that "00h"is recorded in the case where the ratio between luminance (Y), colordifference (Cr) and color difference (Cb) is 4:2:0, "01h" is recorded inthe case of orthogonal case of 4:2:0, "10h" is recorded in the case of4:2:2 and "20h" is recorded in the case of orthogonal of 4:2:2. It is tobe noted that "orthogonal" indicates that Y data and C data of theleading portion are in correspondence with each other.

Moreover, the "length and breadth discrimination" is rotationinformation (in counterclockwise direction) for displaying picture, andis such that "00h" is recorded in the case of ordinary lateral display,"01h" is recorded in the case of the longitudinal display rotated by 90degrees with respect to the lateral display, "02h" is recorded in thecase of lateral display rotated by 180 degrees with respect to thelateral display, and "03h" is recorded in the case of longitudinaldisplay rotated by 270 degrees with respect to the lateral display.Additionally, "FFh" is undefined at present.

These respective information are all reproduced so that they can bedisplayed. For this reason, user displays this picture parameter tableon monitor unit 9, thereby making it possible to recognize, with ease,parameters of corresponding picture.

5-4 [Overall information management file]

The overall information management file is management file forsynthetically carrying out management of all data files recorded in thedirectory (PIC₋₋ MD).

The overall information management file consists of header and data bodyas shown in FIG. 24(a). In the header, format table (10h), name table(11h), comment table (12h), disc ID table (14h), and option table (90h)are recorded as described above. In the data body, total number ofpictures of 2 bytes, next picture directory No. of 2 bytes, total numberof picture directories of 2 bytes, information indicating presence orabsence of reproduction control directory of 1 byte, the number ofreproduction control files of 1 byte, the number of print data files of1 byte, and information indicating presence or absence of Telop datafile of 1 byte are recorded. In addition, information indicatingpresence or absence of retrieval information file of 1 byte, automaticstarting file No. of 1 byte, last access picture directory No. of 2bytes, last access picture No. of 2 bytes, pass word of 8 bytes,narration language information of 6 bytes, space area (reserved) of 2bytes, and picture directory information unit of 48 bytes are recordedby N (N is the number of picture directories). It is to be noted thatthese respective information are all recorded in binary data form.

The "Total number of pixels" is information indicating the total numberof pixels of picture of ordinary resolution (intermediate resolutionpicture data) of aspect ratio of 3:4, "Next picture directory No." isinformation in which 1 is added to the last No. of the picturedirectory, and "Total number of picture directories" is informationindicating the number (N) of picture directories. In addition, "presenceor absence of the number of files of telop data" is such that "00h" isrecorded in the case where no telop data exists and "01h" is recorded inthe case where telop data exists.

As described above, picture directory information unit consisting of 48bytes is recorded in a manner caused to be in correspondence with indexpicture recorded in the overall index file. In this overall index file,respective one index pictures that user has selected of index picturesincluded in respective picture directories are recorded in order of thepicture directories. Accordingly, since respective one index picturesare taken out from the picture directories, index pictures having thesame number (N) as that of the picture directories are recorded in theoverall index file.

Moreover, one picture directory information unit corresponds to oneindex picture recorded in the overall index file, and picture directoryinformation unit corresponding to index picture recorded in the m-thoverall index file is recorded as the m-th unit. Namely, these picturedirectory information units are recorded in the same order as therecording order of the index pictures of the overall index file and bythe same number as above.

Respective picture directory information units consist, as shown in FIG.24(b), of directory No. of 2 bytes, index picture No. of 2 bytes, thenumber of pictures within directory of 2 bytes, index picture individualinformation of 1 byte, character ID code of 1 byte, directory name of 36bytes, and space area of 4 bytes. While information are all recorded inbinary data form except for the "directory name", the "directory name"is recorded by ASCII code (A).

It is to be noted that the "directory name" is recorded by codes exceptfor ASCII code, such as, for example, ISO code or JIS code, etc., itsdata form becomes "C".

In the directory No., directory No. for indicating picture directoryincluding picture file corresponding to index picture is recorded. Inthe index picture No., picture No. for indicating No. of picture filecorresponding to index picture is recorded. Accordingly, when the m-thindex picture of the overall index file is designated by user, referenceis first made to the m-th picture directory information unit from theleading picture directory information unit. Subsequently, what picturedirectory includes designated picture index is retrieved by data ofdirectory No. recorded in the picture directory information unit towhich reference has been made. In addition, in the index pictureindividual information, rotation information, etc. in displaying indexpicture on the monitor is recorded. In displaying the index picture,display is carried out on the basis of the information.

5-5 [Picture data management file]

Respective one picture data management files are necessarily provided inthe picture directories, and data for carrying out management ofrespective pictures stored in the directory are recorded.

The picture data management file consists of header and data body asshown in FIG. 25(a). In the header, format table (10h), name table(11h), comment table (12h), disc ID table (14h) and option table (90h)are recorded.

Moreover, in the data body, link ID of 1 byte, space area (reserved) of3 bytes, next picture No. of 2 bytes, No. of pictures of 2 bytes, spacearea of 2 bytes (reserved),x No. of picture index files of 1 byte, Nextpicture index file No. of 1 byte, index file information of 4×256 bytes,and picture information units of 16 bytes are recorded by N (the numberof pictures). It is to be noted that these respective information arerecorded in binary data form.

The "No. of pictures" is information indicating total number of pictures(N) in the picture directory. Moreover, "index file information" arearranged (allocated) in accordance with display order, and, e.g., 256entries are prepared irrespective of the number of actually existingindex files.

The picture information unit of 16 bytes is recorded in a manner causedto be in correspondence with index picture recorded in picture indexfile which will be described later. In this picture index file, indexpictures for indicating all picture files included in the picturedirectory are recorded in order of display. For this reason, N number ofindex pictures which have the same number as the total number N ofpictures in the picture directory are recorded in the picture indexfile.

Moreover, one picture information unit corresponds to one index picturerecorded in the picture index file, and picture information unitcorresponding to the m-th index picture recorded in this picture indexfile is recorded as the m-th unit. Namely, these picture informationunits are recorded in the same order as the recording order of indexpictures of the picture index files and by the same number as above.

In the "picture information unit", as shown in FIG. 25(b), directory No.of 2 bytes, picture No. of 2 bytes, picture kind information of 1 byte,picture individual information of 1 byte, No. of links of 1 byte,narration information of 1 byte, key word retrieval data No. of 2 bytes,time stamp retrieval data No. of 2 bytes, Telop No. of 2 bytes, andspace area of 2 bytes (reserved) are recorded. It is to be noted thatthese information are respectively recorded in the binary data form.

In the directory No., directory No. for indicating picture directoryincluding picture file corresponding to index picture is recorded. Inthe picture No., picture No. for indicating No. of picture filecorresponding to the index picture is recorded. For this reason, whenthe m-th index picture of the picture index file is designated by user,reference is first made to the m-th picture information unit from theleading portion. Namely, which picture directory includes the designatedpicture index is retrieved by data of the directory No. recorded in thepicture information unit to which reference has been made. Subsequently,which picture file of that picture directory is retrieved by picture No.

In addition, data indicating picture kind such as "PSN" representingintermediate resolution picture file and "PHP" representing highresolution picture file, etc. are recorded in the picture kindinformation. In designating the high resolution picture file and theintermediate resolution picture file by the index picture, file name(leading three characters) is designated on the basis of the picturekind information.

5-6 [Print data management file]

The print data management file consists of header and data body as shownin FIG. 26(a). Format table (10h), name table (11h), comment table(12h), and option table (90h) are recorded in the header.

Next print data file No. of 1 byte, total No. of print data files of 1byte, space area of 2 bytes (reserved), and print data file managementinformation unit of 4×N (number of pictures) bytes are recorded in thedata body.

As the "next print data file No.", value obtained by adding 1 to No. ofthe last print data file is recorded. As the "total No. of print datafiles", total number of the print data files is recorded. As the "printdata file management information unit", the number of print data filesis recorded.

In the "print data file management information"unit, as shown in FIG.26(b), print data file No. of 1 byte, print execution ID of 1 byte, andspace area of 2 bytes (reserved) are recorded.

The print data file No. is information indicating No. of print datafile. As shown in FIG. 19, numbers corresponding to three characters"000" subsequent to PRT of print data file PRT000. PM0 are recorded. Inaddition, as the "print execution ID", "01h" is recorded in the casewhere no print is carried out by print data file designated bycorresponding print data file number, and "00h" is recorded in the casewhere print is carried out by print data file designated bycorresponding print data file number.

5-7 [Picture data file]

The picture data file consists of header and data body as shown in FIG.27. Format table, picture parameter table, divisional management table,name table, comment table, copyright information table, recording datetable, color management information table, appearance information table,camera information table, scanner information table, laboratoryinformation table, and option table are recorded in the header. It is tobe noted that the "format table" and the "picture parameter table" areessential (inevitable) recording matter in the case of constituting thesystem, and other tables are option matter.

Respective data recorded in respective tables are picture processinginformation, etc. indicating condition in processing original picturedata to form high resolution data or intermediate resolution picturedata. For this reason, there is no possibility that data recorded inthese tables are rewritten at the time of the ordinaryrecording/reproduction.

In this example, the data body is adapted so that high resolutionpicture data or intermediate resolution picture data which has beencaused to undergo fixed length encoding is recorded thereinto.

5-8 [Overall index file]

Respective one index pictures that user has selected of plural indexpictures included in respective directories are recorded into theoverall index file in the order displayed on the monitor. Accordingly,the same number of index pictures as that of respective picturedirectories are recorded in the overall index file.

The overall index file is set of index picture data (low resolutionpicture data), and header of the file itself is not provided. The numberof index pictures is recorded as the "total number of directories" bythe above-described overall information management file. In addition,respective indices are arranged (allocated) in the same order as theorder of the management files.

In more practical sense, the overall index file consists of only databody of index picture data 0 to N each having 4096 bytes as shown inFIG. 28(a). The respective index picture data consist of header and databody as shown in FIG. 28(b). Format table is recorded in the header. Itis to be noted that space area is provided succeedingly (subsequently)to the format table so that arbitrary user information can be recorded.Index picture data (low resolution picture data) which has been causedto undergo fixed length encoding are recorded into the data body. It isto be noted that space area is provided in the data body succeedingly(subsequently) to the index picture data.

5-9 [Picture index file]

In the picture index file, index pictures for indicating all picturefiles included in corresponding picture directory are recorded indisplay order. Accordingly, N index pictures having the same number asthe total number of pictures in the picture directory are recorded inthe picture index file.

Moreover, the picture index file is set of index picture data (lowresolution picture data). This picture index file is of a structure asshown in FIG. 29(a) in which it includes no header of the file itself,and instead includes headers every respective index picture data. Thenumber of index pictures is recorded as the total number of directoriesby the overall information management file. In addition, respectiveindices are arranged (allocated) in the same order as the order of themanagement files.

In more practical sense, as shown in FIG. 29(b), the respective indexpicture data consist of header including format table and space area,and data body including low resolution picture data which have beencaused to undergo fixed length encoding and space area. The totalcapacity of the header and the lower resolution picture data is, e.g.,4096 bytes. In addition, the header is fixed capacity of 256 bytesincluding space area as well.

5-10 [Print data file]

The print data file consists of header and data body as shown in FIG.30. Format table, name table, comment table, and option table arerecorded in the header. Moreover, total number of prints of 2 bytes,space area of 2 bytes (reserved), and print information unit of 40 bytesare recorded by N (number of pictures) in the data body.

In the "total number of prints", information indicating total number ofpictures subjected to print is recorded. In the "print informationunit", data indicating picture data subjected to print and print controldata for controlling the printer 2 in carrying out print-out of thepicture by the printer 2, etc. are recorded.

It is to be noted that these information are respectively recorded inbinary data form.

In the "print information unit", as shown in FIG. 31, as data indicatingpicture data, picture directory No. of 2 bytes, picture No. of 2 bytes,and picture kind of 1 byte are recorded.

Moreover, in the "print information unit", as print control data, dataindicating the number of prints of 1 byte, reserve of 1 byte, extractionID of 1 byte, extraction start position of 2 bytes (picture lateraldirection=X direction), extraction start position of 2 bytes (picturelongitudinal direction=Y direction), extraction size of 2 bytes(longitudinal direction=X direction), and extraction size of 2 bytes(lateral direction=Y direction) are recorded. Further, data of rotationID of 1 byte, mirror ID of 1 byte, print size ID of 1 byte, regularshape designation of 1 byte, non-regular size designation of 2 bytes(lateral direction=X direction), non-regular size designation of 2 bytes(longitudinal direction=Y direction), multi ID of 1 byte, multi mode of1 byte, caption ID of 1 byte, caption kind of 1 byte, and colorprocessing ID of 1 byte are recorded. In addition, data indicating red(R) gain of 1 byte, green (G) gain of 1 byte, blue (B) of 1 byte,contrast of 1 byte, brightness of 1 byte, sharpness of 1 byte,saturation of 1 byte, and hue of 1 byte (rotational angle of colorcoordinates) are recorded.

The print control data of the "number of prints" is data indicating thenumber of prints of the same picture. Moreover, the print control dataof the "extraction ID" is data indicating whether or not a desiredportion extracted from high resolution picture data recorded on the discis subjected to print. In the case where high resolution picture datarecorded on the disc is subjected to print as it is, "00h" is recordedas the extraction ID. In the case where a desired portion is extractedand the extracted portion is subjected to print, "01h" is recorded asthe extraction ID.

The print control data indicating the "extraction start position" aredata for designating respective extraction start positions in thelateral direction (X direction) and the longitudinal direction (Ydirection) of picture in the case where desired portion extracted fromhigh resolution picture data recorded on the disc is subjected to print,and those data are respectively recorded in pixel units.

The "mirror ID" is data for designating whether corresponding highresolution picture data is subjected to print in the normal state, or issubjected to print in inverted state. In the case where print in thenormal state is designated, "00h" is recorded as the mirror ID. In thecase where print in the inverted state is designated, "01h" is recordedas the mirror ID. The "print size ID" is data for designating whetherprint is carried out at the regular shape size which will be describedlater, or print is carried out at the non-regular shape size arbitrarilydesignated. In the case where print of the regular shape size isdesignated, "00h" is recorded as the print size ID. In the case whereprint at the non-regular shape size is designated, "01h" is recorded.

The "regular shape designation" is data for selecting desired print sizefrom existing print sizes. In the case where the so-called E type printsize is selected, "00h" is recorded. In the case where the L type printsize is selected, "01h" is recorded. In the case where the K type printsize is selected, "02h" is recorded. In the cabinet (LL size) isselected, "03h" is recorded. In the case where one-sixth size isselected, "04h" is recorded. In the case where quarter size is selected,"05h" is recorded. Moreover, in the case where A6 size is selected,"10h" is recorded. In the case where A5 size is selected, "11h" isrecorded. In the case where A4 size is selected, "12h" is recorded. Inthe case where A3 size is selected, "13h" is recorded.

It is to be noted that in the case where print at the non-regular shapesize is designated by the "print size ID", "FFh" is recorded as theprint control data of the "regular shape designation".

The print control data of the "non-regular (shape) size designation" isdata for allowing user to arbitrarily designate print size except forthe above-described print sizes of the regular (shape) sizes, and thesedata can be respectively set in mm units in the longitudinal direction(X direction) and the lateral direction (Y direction). In the case whereuser selects regular shape by the "print size ID" to select desiredprint size from the respective sizes, "FFFFh" is recorded as the printcontrol data of the "non-regular (shape) size designation".

The print control data of the "multi ID" is data indicating whether ornot there is a print designation of the so-called multi-screen to dividea picture on screen into plural portions to respectively display thesame pictures at those portions. In the case where print of themulti-screen is not carried out, "00h" is recorded on the basis of thejudgment that "multi processing is absent". In the case where print ofthe multi-screen is carried out, "01h" is recorded on the basis of thejudgment that "multi processing is present".

The print control data of the "multi mode" is data for designating thenumber of divisions of one picture on screen in the case where print ofthe multi screen is carried out. In the case where one picture on screenis divided into two portions (halved), "00h" is recorded. In the casewhere one picture is divided into four portions (quartered), "01h" isrecorded. In the case where one picture on screen is divided into sixportions, "02h" is recorded. In the case where one picture on screen isdivided into eight portions, "03h" is recorded. In the case where onepicture on screen is divided into sixteen portions, "04h" is recorded.

The print control data of the "caption ID" is data for designatingwhether or not, e.g., characters such as caption (title) or recordingdate, etc. attached to corresponding picture are also subjected to printtogether on the lower (or upper) portion of the picture subjected toprint. The characters such as caption (title) and recording date, etc.are recorded by the ASCII code of 244 bytes as described above, and canbe recorded by 244 (characters) (122 (characters) if Kanji is used).Further, in the case where print of picture is carried out along withthe caption and recording date, etc., "01h" is recorded as the captionID. In the case where print of picture is not carried out along with thecaption and recording date, etc., "00h" is recorded.

The print control data of the "caption kind" is data for designatingwhether or not respective data constituting the header of picture datafile which has been described with reference to FIG. 27 are subjected toprint. This caption kind is such that in the case where designation ismade so that name data included in "name table" is printed out alongwith picture data, "11h" is recorded thereinto as table ID of the nametable; in the case where designation is made so that comment dataincluded in the "comment table" is printed out along with picture data,"12h" is recorded thereinto as table ID of the comment table, and in thecase where designation is made so that recording date data included inthe "recording date table" is printed out along with picture data, "14h"is recorded thereinto as table ID of the recording date table.

The print control data of the "color processing ID" is data indicatingwhether or not user implements color processing to emphasize red, etc.to a desired portion with respect to corresponding picture. In the casewhere the color processing is not implemented, "00h" is recorded. In thecase where the color processing is implemented, "01h" is recorded.

The print control data of the "respective gains of R, G, B" are dataindicating gains of respective color data. The respective color data areadapted so that gains of multiple of 0 to 5 can be respectively adjustedat 1/256 (8 bits) intervals. As the print control data of the respectivegains, data indicating gains thus adjusted are recorded.

The print control data of the "contrast" is data indicating contrast ofpicture subjected to print, and can be adjusted at 1/256 intervalssimilarly to the above-mentioned gain. Further, value indicatingcontrast thus adjusted is recorded as the print control data.

The print control data of the "brightness" and "hue" are data indicatingbrightness of picture subjected to print, and are recorded by percentagein the + direction and in the - direction with 128 indicated by 8 bitsbeing as ¤0.

The print control data of the "sharpness" is data indicating edgeemphasis rate (degree) of picture adjusted between magnification of 0 to5, and value adjusted at 1/256 (8 bits) interval is recorded.

In addition, the print control data of the "saturation" is also suchthat value adjusted at 1/256 (8 bits) intervals between magnification of0 to 5 is recorded.

6 [Recording operation]

The recording operation of the still picture filing system will now bedescribed with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 32 and 33 in amanner based on the premise of the hierarchical directory structure andthe respective file configurations.

Initially, in the flowchart shown in FIG. 32, when the storage unit 5 isbrought into stand-by state, the processing operation by this flowchartstarts to proceed to step S1.

When user inserts optical disc 20 at the step S1, the processingoperation then proceeds to step S2. Thus, the inserted optical disc 20is loaded into the storage unit 5, resulting in therecordable/reproducible state of picture data.

At the step S2, system controller 6 controls the discrecording/reproduction section 5c so as to read P-TOC on the opticaldisc 20 shown in FIG. 8(a) through the storage unit controller 5d shownin FIG. 6. Then, the controller 5d transfers respective data of theP-TOC thus read out to the system controller 6 shown in FIG. 1. Thesystem controller 6 detects respective data of the P-TOC thustransferred to thereby confirm whether or not data U-TOC exists, andconfirms recording position of the U-TOC.

The system controller 6 judges, in the case where the data file exists,that U-TOC exists at the leading portion of the data file. Thus, theprocessing operation proceeds to step S3.

At the step S3, the system controller 6 controls the discrecording/reproduction section 5c so as to read the data U-TOC on theoptical disc 20 shown in FIG. 8(a) through the storage unit controller5d. Then, the controller 5d transfers data of the data U-TOC thus readout to RAM 6a of the system controller 6. The system controller 6temporarily stores the data of the data U-TOC into the RAM 6a to readout it therefrom to thereby grasp positions of respective picturedirectories and respective files. Thus, the processing operationproceeds to step S4. It is to be noted that retrieval of memory positionof file will be described in detail at the chapter of [Description ofoperation at the time of retrieval] which will be described later.

At the step S4, the system controller 6 discriminates, on the basis ofthe data of the data U-TOC stored in the RAM 6a, whether or notdirectory (PIC₋₋ MD) and overall information management file exist tothereby discriminate whether or not the optical disc 20 is formatted forrecording of picture data. In the case of Yes, the processing operationproceeds to step S5. In the case of No, the processing operationproceeds to step S11.

At the step S11, since the optical disc 20 is not formatted for picturedata, the system controller 6 formats the optical disc 20 for recordingof picture data. Then, the entire routine shown in FIGS. 32 and 33 isonce completed. The system is brought into standby state until recordingis designated for a second time.

On the other hand, at the step S5, the system controller 6 controls thedisc recording/reproduction section 5c so as to read out all managementfiles through the storage unit controller 5d, and temporarily stores,into the RAM 6a, all the management files which have been read out.Thus, the processing operation proceeds to step S6.

At the step S6, the system controller 6 carries out display control ofmonitor unit 9 so as to display picture to select the recording mode ofpicture to be recorded from now. In more practical sense, select pictureof the HD recording mode for recording picture of high resolution of1024 pixels × 1536 pixels and select picture of the UD recording modefor recording picture of ultra high resolution of 2048 pixels × 3072pixels are displayed on the monitor unit 9.

It is to be noted that while the picture of intermediate resolution isrecorded at fixed data length of 2 clusters as described above, theremay be employed an approach in which recording mode for recordingpicture of the intermediate resolution by fixed data length of 1 clusteris provided so that any one of the fixed length encoding at the datalength of 2 clusters and fixed length encoding at the data length of 1cluster can be selected by the user's intention. Thus, when therecording mode of fixed data length of 2 clusters is selected,intermediate resolution picture data of higher resolution can berecorded. On the other hand, when the recording mode of the fixed datalength of 1 cluster is selected, recording in which the number ofrecording pictures is caused to be increased can be conducted althoughresolution is somewhat poor.

At the step S7, the system controller 6 detects operation state of theoperation unit 10 to thereby discriminates whether or not any one of theHD recording mode and the UD recording mode is selected. In the case ofNo, the step S7 is repeated until the above-mentioned selection is made.In the case of Yes, the processing operation proceeds to step S8.

At the step S8, the system controller 6 calculates, on the basis of thetotal number of recorded pictures (total number of pictures ofintermediate resolution picture data) within the overall informationmanagement file stored in the RAM 6a, and the number of pictures andpicture kind information of picture information within the picture datamanagement file, the number of recordable pictures in the HD recordingmode or the UD recording mode designated by user.

In more practical sense, on the optical disc 20, recording of about 200pictures can be carried out by combination of only intermediateresolution picture data of 2 clusters and high resolution picture dataof 8 clusters, and recording of about 100 pictures can be carried out bycombination of only intermediate resolution picture data of 2 clustersand ultra high resolution picture data of 18 clusters. For this reason,when the recorded capacity is subtracted from recordable capacity of theentirety of the optical disc 20, the number of recordable pictures inthe case where the HD recording mode is selected and the number ofrecordable pictures in the case where the UD recording mode is recordedare respectively calculated.

Subsequently, at step S9, the system controller 6 reads out picturedirectory information unit within the overall management file from theRAM 6a to allow the monitor unit 9 to undergo display control so as todisplay data of directory name, directory No. and the number of pictureswithin the picture directory, etc. Thus, the processing operationproceeds to step S10.

At the step S10, the system controller 6 detects operation state of theoperation unit 10 to thereby discriminate whether or not designation ofpicture directory for recording corresponding data is made from user. Inthe case of No, the processing operation proceeds to step S12. In thecase of Yes, the processing operation proceeds to step S14 shown in FIG.33.

At the step S12, since designation of picture directory is not made fromuser, the system controller 6 detects operation state of the operationunit 10 to thereby discriminate whether or not formation of newdirectory except for the existing picture directories is designated. Inthe case of No, the step S10 and the step S12 are repeated untilformation of the new directory is designated. In the case of Yes, theprocessing operation proceeds to step S13.

At the step S13, since formation of the new directory is designated, thesystem controller 6 judges the number of the existing picturedirectories by the overall information management file to attachdirectory No. of the new directory, and to form picture data managementfile and picture index file in the picture directory. Thus, theprocessing operation proceeds to the step S14 sown in FIG. 33.

At the step S14 shown in FIG. 33, the system controller 6 controls thedisc recording/reproduction section 5c through the storage unitcontroller 5d so as to read out all the picture data recorded in theindex file of the designated directory, and to conduct a control totransfer the picture data of the index file to the main memory 11a shownin FIG. 4. Thus, the processing operation proceeds to step S15. It is tobe noted that the picture data recorded after undergone fixed lengthencoding along with the header is read out from the index file as it iswithout allowing it to undergo expansion decoding processing to transferit to the main memory 11a. In addition, when no picture data is recordedin the index file, there is no possibility that picture data is read outinto the main memory.

At the step S15, the system controller 6 detects operation state of theoperation unit 10 to thereby discriminate whether or not designation ofrecording start is made from user. In the case of No., the step S15 isrepeated until designation of the recording start is made. In the caseof Yes, the processing operation proceeds to step S16.

At the step S16, the system controller 6 discriminates whether or notpicture to be recorded from now on is index picture. In the case of No,the processing operation proceeds to step S17. In the case of Yes, theprocessing operation proceeds to step S25.

At the step S25, the system controller 6 delivers data indicating thatpicture to be recorded from now on is index picture to the thinning andcontraction/expansion controller 4i shown in FIG. 5. The thinning andcontraction/expansion circuit 4i is operative so that when the data isdelivered thereto, it sets fixed length encoding coefficients for indexpicture at the contraction/expansion circuit 4h. Thus, the processingoperation proceeds to step S26.

At the step S26, the system controller 6 controls thecompression/expansion circuit 4h so as to implement compression encodingprocessing to the picture data which has been caused to undergo thinningprocessing into 1/4 on the basis of the set fixed length encodingcoefficients through the thinning and compression/expansion controller4i to thereby form index picture which has been caused to undergo fixedlength encoding so that the fixed data length of 1/15 clusters isprovided. The processing operation thus proceeds to step S27.

At the step S27, the system controller 6 controls the memory controller13 so as to record index picture of 4096 bytes in total in which headeris added to index file stored in the main memory 11a shown in FIG. 4.Thus, the processing operation proceeds to step S28.

At the step S28, the system controller 6 discriminates whether or notall index pictures are recorded into the main memory 11a. In the case ofNo, the processing operation returns to the step S16. In the case ofYes, the processing operation proceeds to step S29.

At the step S29, the system controller 6 retrieves the portion whereentry of 2 bits (code indicating available allocation block) of theallocation block No. of volume space bitmap VS in the data U-TOC storedin the RAM 6a is "00" to thereby detect space area. Thus, the processingoperation proceeds to step S30.

At the step S30, the system controller 6 controls the discrecording/reproduction section 5c so as to provide access to the spacearea detected on the optical disc 20 through the storage unit controller5d. Thus, the processing operation proceeds to step S31.

At the step S31, the system controller 6 controls the discrecording/reproduction section 5c so as to record index file having theindex picture into the space area on the optical disc 20 through thestorage unit controller 5d. Thus, the processing operation proceeds tothe step S23.

Namely, in the still picture filing system, in the case where the indexpicture is caused to undergo fixed length encoding to record it onto theoptical disc 20, an approach is employed to temporarily record, before apredetermined number of index pictures which have been caused to undergofixed length encoding are recorded onto the optical disc 20, suchpictures in order into the main memory 11a to thereby form single indexfile from the predetermined number of index pictures in the main memory11a thereafter to record it into physically continuous areas on theoptical disc 20.

On the other hand, one index picture is caused to undergo fixed lengthencoding so that data length of 1/15 clusters is provided as describedabove. For this reason, in order to record the picture data of datalength of 1/15 clusters onto the optical disc 20, it is necessary to adddummy data corresponding to 14/15 clusters with respect to the picturedata of 1/15 clusters so that data length of one cluster is provided.Accordingly, if picture data are recorded onto the disc every time thepicture data of 1/15 clusters are formed, the recording area for thedummy data would become greater than the recording area for picture datafor index, thus failing to effectively utilize the recording area on thedisc.

For this reason, in the still picture filing system, such an approach isemployed to temporarily record a predetermined number of picture datafor index into the main memory 11a as index file to record the indexfile which has been recorded in the main memory 11a onto the disc aftertaking-in operations of all index pictures are completed.

Namely, in the case where, e.g., index file having 25 index pictures isrecorded, 15 index pictures (15×1/15 clusters) are recorded in the areaof 1 cluster and the remaining 10 index pictures (10×1/15 clusters) anddummy data of 5/15 clusters are recorded in the area of the next 1cluster. Thus, data quantity of dummy data recorded onto the disc can belessened. As a result, the recording area on the disc can be effectivelyused. Moreover, in the still picture filing system, since such anapproach is employed to temporarily record plural index pictures whichhave been caused to undergo fixed length encoding into the main memory11a to thereby form single file by a predetermined number of indexpictures in the main memory 11a to record this index file into thephysically continuous areas on the disc, index files recorded onto thedisc can be necessarily continuous files. For this reason, in the caseof reading out the index files from the optical disc 20, those files canbe read out at a high speed because they are continuously recorded onthe disc.

It is to be noted that in the case where new index picture issupplemented to the index file, as described above, prior to recording,data of the index file is read out into the main memory 11a. Inrecording, new index picture is recorded in the area immediately afterthe index picture recorded last after dummy data added after the indexpicture recorded last is deleted (erased) (There is no necessity ofdeletion in the case where there is no dummy data).

On the other hand, when discrimination result is No at the step S16, theprocessing operation proceeds to step S74. At the step S17, the systemcontroller 6 detects space area on the optical disc 20 for recordingpicture of intermediate resolution or picture of high resolution. Thus,the processing operation proceeds to step S18.

In more practical sense, the system controller 6 retrieves the portionwhere entry of 2 bits (code indicating available allocation block) ofthe allocation block No. of the volume space bitmap VS in the data U-TOCstored in the RAM 6a is "00" to thereby to carry out detection of thespace area.

At the step S18, the system controller 6 detects optimum space area ofspace areas retrieved at the step S17 to control the discrecording/reproduction section 5c through the storage unit controller 5dso that access thereto is provided.

In this case, it is the most desirable that the optimum recordingposition is an area after the recorded file (file recorded last)recorded in order under the same directory and an area where areas ofpictures (corresponding to several clusters) to be recorded arephysically continuous.

However, in the case where large capacity data such as high resolutionpicture data (8 clusters) or ultra high resolution picture data (18clusters) are recorded, and in the case where unrecorded area of theoptical disc 20 is less, there are instances where it is impossible toensure areas physically continuous in the area after the file recordedlast of the same directory. In such a case, extent record block ERB isformed within the management block to link, by this ERB, distributedplural areas which are not continuous to record one file.

Subsequently, at step S19, the system controller 6 sets fixed lengthencoding coefficients corresponding to the high resolution picture dataor the ultra high resolution picture data at the thinning andcompression/expansion controller 4i. Thus, the processing operationproceeds to step S20.

At the step S20, the thinning and compression/expansion controller 4icontrols the compression/expansion circuit 4h so as to form highresolution picture data of 8 clusters or ultra high resolution picturedata of 18 clusters on the basis of the set fixed length encodingcoefficients. Thus, the processing operation proceeds to step S21.

At the step S21, the system controller 6 controls the discrecording/reproduction section 5c so as to record the picture data whichhas been caused to undergo fixed length encoding into the detectedoptimum area on the optical disc 20 through the storage unit controller5d. Thus, the processing operation proceeds to step S22.

At the step S22, the system controller 6 carries out recording controlof the picture data, and determines, in succession, data of picture datamanagement file of the designated directory and file names correspondingto resolutions of respective picture data. Thus, the processingoperation proceeds to step S23.

In more practical sense, e.g., recording in the HD recording mode offirst to sixth pictures which have been read from the negative film intothe picture directory "PIC00001" is as follows.

Namely, since the number of pictures recorded in the HD recording modecan be judged to be zero from data of the picture data management filein the RAM 6a before recording, high resolution (HD) of the firstpicture is caused to be PHP00000. PMP, and the intermediate resolution(SD) thereof is caused to be PSN00000. PMP. Accordingly, when the sixpictures have been all recorded, files of PHP00000. PMP to PHP00005. PMPas the high resolution and PSN00000. PMP to PSN00005. PMP as theintermediate resolution are formed.

It is to be noted that in the case where index pictures of these sixpictures are recorded, these six index pictures are recorded in orderinto the PIDX000. PMX which has been read into the main memory 11a. Forthis reason, new index file is not formed. It is to be noted that in thecase the number of index pictures recorded in one index file is abovethe number of index pictures set in advance (e.g., 25 in thisdescription), second index file such as PIDX001. PMX, etc. is newlyformed.

At step S23, the system controller 6 discriminates whether or notpicture data of three kinds of resolutions of low resolution picturedata (index picture), intermediate resolution picture data and highresolution picture data (or ultra high resolution picture data) havebeen all recorded. In the case of No, the processing operation returnsto the step S16 to record picture data of resolutions which have not yetrecorded. In the case of Yes, the processing operation proceeds to stepS24.

At the step S24, the system controller 6 updates data of the data U-TOC,the overall information management file and the picture data managementfile recorded on the disc by respective data of data U-TOC, overallinformation management file and picture data management file recorded inthe RAM 6a to complete the entire routine according to the recordingoperation shown in FIGS. 32 and 33.

In more practical sense, in the data U-TOC, respective data such asVolume Descriptor (VD), Volume Space Bitmap (VS), Management Table (MT),Directory Record Block (DRB) and Extents Record Block (ERB), etc. aremainly rewritten.

Namely, in the VD, data relating to allocation block (recordableallocation block, etc.), No. of directories (in the case where formationof new directory is designated), No. of files, data relating todirectory record block DRB (in the case where directory or file is newlyformed), and data relating to extent record block ERB (in the case wherenewly formed file is recorded at physically discontinuous positions andis linked by extent record block ERB), etc. are rewritten. Moreover, inthe volume space bitmap VS, codes of 2 bits indicating attribute ofrespective allocation blocks, etc. are rewritten.

Further, in the management table MT, MT is subjected to entry whendirectory record block DRB and extent record block ERB are newly formed.It is to be noted that in the case where one directory record unit inthe existing directory record block DRB is supplemented, managementtable MT is not updated.

Further, in the directory record block DRB, in the case where directoryis newly formed, directory record unit for directory is supplemented byone. Similarly, in the case where file is formed, directory record unitfor file is supplemented by one per each file.

In addition, in the extent record block ERB, in the case where files aredesignated by the directory record block DRB and those files are notphysically continuous, that ERB is formed. It is to be noted that theERB is not formed at the time of format.

In the overall information management file, data such as total number ofpictures, next picture directory No., total number of picturedirectories, and picture directory information unit, etc. are mainlyrewritten. With respect to the picture directory information unit, whenpicture directory is newly formed, one unit is formed.

Moreover, with respect to the picture data management file, when picturedirectory is newly formed, picture data management file is newly formedwithin the newly formed picture directory. Further, data such as No. ofpictures, No. of picture index files, next picture index file No., indexfile information, and picture information unit, etc. are mainly updated.With respect to the index file information, when index file is newlyformed, that information is updated. Moreover, with respect to thenumber of indices, when No. of indices in the index file issupplemented, that No. of indices is updated. Further, since pictureinformation units are provided in correspondence with respective indexpictures, the number of picture information units is increased by theincreased number of pictures. In the ordinary recording, data in thepicture information unit is not updated. However, when switching oforder of index pictures is carried out, switching of picture No. iscarried out so that the data subjected to switching is updated.

7. [Description of Second Recording Operation]

Another recording operation for picture data of respective resolutionswill now be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 34. Whenthe routine of the step S1 to the step S13 of the flowchart which hasbeen described with reference to FIG. 32 is completed, the processingoperation by the flowchart of FIG. 34 starts to proceed to step S41.

At the step S41, the system controller 6 reads out all picture datawhich have been recorded in the index file of the designated directory.Thus, the processing operation proceeds to step S42.

At the step S42, the system controller 6 detects operation state of theoperation unit 10 to thereby detect whether or not recording start fromuser is designated. In the case of No, this step S42 is repeated untilrecording start is designated. In the case of Yes, the processingoperation proceeds to step S43.

It is to be noted that the steps S41 and S42 shown in FIG. 34 are stepsrespectively corresponding to the steps S14 and S15 which have beendescribed with reference to FIG. 33.

At the step S43, the system controller 6 discriminates whether picturedata to be recorded is high resolution picture data (HD or UD),intermediate resolution picture data (SD) or low resolution picture data(index picture data). When current recording operation is discriminatedas recording of low resolution picture data, the processing operationproceeds to step S53. When the current recording operation isdiscriminated as recording for intermediate resolution picture data, theprocessing operation proceeds to step S44. When the current recordingoperation is discriminated as recording for high resolution picturedata, the processing operation proceeds to step S52.

Steps 53 to 59 to which the processing operation proceeds after thecurrent recording operation is discriminated as recording for lowresolution picture data at the step S43 respectively correspond to thesteps S25 to S31 shown in FIG. 33.

Namely, at the step S53, the system controller 6 delivers dataindicating that picture to be recorded from now on is index picture tothe thinning and compression/expansion controller 4i shown in FIG. 5.The thinning and compression/expansion controller 4i is operative sothat when the data is delivered thereto, it sets fixed length encodingcoefficients for index picture at the compression/expansion circuit 4h.Thus, the processing operation proceeds to step S54.

At the step S54, the system controller 6 controls thecompression/expansion circuit 4h on the basis of the set fixed lengthencoding coefficients so as to implement compression encoding processingto the picture data which has been caused to undergo thinning processinginto 1/4 through the thinning and compression/expansion controller 4i tothereby form index picture which has been subjected to fixed lengthencoding so as to have fixed data length of 1/15 clusters. Thus, theprocessing operation proceeds to step S55.

At the step S55, the system controller 6 controls memory controller 13so as to record index picture of 4096 bytes in total in which header isadded to the file stored in the main memory 11a shown in FIG. 4. Thus,the processing operation proceeds to step S56.

At the step S56, the system controller 6 discriminates whether or notall of index pictures have been recorded into the main memory 11a. Inthe case of No, the processing operation returns to the step S43. In thecase of Yes, the processing operation proceeds to step S57.

At the step S57, the system controller 6 retrieves the portion whereentry of 2 bits (code indicating available allocation block) ofallocation block No. of volume space bitmap VS within data U-TOC storedin the RAM 6a is "00" to thereby detect space area. Thus, the processingoperation proceeds to step S58.

At the step S58, the system controller 6 controls the discrecording/reproduction section 5c so as to provide access to thedetected space area on the optical disc 20 through the storage unitcontroller 5d. Thus, the processing operation proceeds to step S59.

At the step S59, the system controller 6 controls the discrecording/reproduction section 5c so as to record the index picture intothe space area on the optical disc 20 through the storage unitcontroller 5d. Thus, the processing operation proceeds to step S50.

Subsequently, at the step S57, space area for low resolution picturedata is detected. At the step S44, space area for intermediateresolution picture data is detected. At the step S52, space area forhigh resolution picture data (or for ultra high resolution picture data)is detected. This space area detection is carried out by retrieving theportion where entry of 2 bits (code indicating available allocationblock) of allocation block No. of volume space bitmap VS within the dataU-TOC stored in the RAM 6a is "00" as described above. In this instance,designations of addresses to be retrieved are carried out incorrespondence with recording of respective resolutions.

Namely, the case of recording of low resolution picture data (step S57)will be described below. In the ordinary use, as far as 200 index imagesat the maximum can be recorded in the HD recording mode. In both thecase where HD recording mode is selected and the case the UD recordingmode is selected, since the index picture has fixed data length of 1/15clusters, the area necessary as the area for index picture consists of200×1/15 clusters=13.33 clusters. However, when the number ofdirectories is increased, there may also exist directories where onlyone or two index pictures are recorded. Since the maximum number ofpicture directories is set to 20, capacity necessary for recording asindex picture is required to the maximum degree in such a case. As aresult, at least 32 clusters are required. For this reason, the systemcontroller 6 carries out, in detecting space area at the time ofrecording index picture, retrieval of code of allocation blocksdesignated by addresses corresponding to 1 to 32 clusters from the discinner circumference to detect space area. It is to be noted thatdetection of other space areas is not carried out in this case.

The case of recording of the intermediate resolution picture data (stepS44) will be described below. In the HD recording mode, 200 pictures canbe recorded at the maximum. Since the picture of intermediate resolution(SD) is recorded by fixed data length of 2 clusters, 2 clusters×200pictures=400 clusters are required as the picture area of theintermediate resolution. For this reason, the system controller 6carries out, in detecting space area at the time of recording picture ofintermediate resolution, retrieval of code of allocation blocks of areasof 400 clusters succeeding to the area (1 to 32 clusters) of indexpicture from the disc inner circumference, i.e., areas designated byaddresses corresponding to 33 to 432 clusters to detect space area.Thus, the processing operation proceeds to step S45.

Similarly, in the UD recording mode, as far as 100 pictures at themaximum can be recorded. Since picture of intermediate resolution (SD)is recorded by fixed data length of 2 clusters, 2 clusters×100pictures=200 clusters are required as the picture area of theintermediate resolution. For this reason, the system controller 6carries out, in detecting space area at the time of recording picture ofthe intermediate resolution, retrieval of code of allocation block ofarea of 200 clusters succeeding to the area (1 to 32 clusters) of theindex picture from the disc inner circumference, i.e., area designatedby addresses corresponding to 33 to 232 clusters to detect space area.Thus, the processing operation proceeds to step S45.

The case of recording of high resolution picture data and ultra highresolution picture data (step S52) will now be described. Initially, inthe HD recording mode, 200 pictures at the maximum can be recorded, andhigh resolution picture data is caused to have fixed data length of 8clusters. For this reason, 8 clusters×200 (pictures)=1600 clusters arerequired in the picture area for the high resolution picture data. Fromfacts as above, the system controller 6 carries out, at the step S53,retrieval of code of allocation block of area of 1600 clusterssucceeding to the area of index picture (1 to 32 clusters) and the areaof picture of intermediate resolution (33 to 432 clusters) from the discinner circumference, i.e., area designated by address corresponding to433 to 2032 clusters to detect space area. Thus, the processingoperation proceeds to step S45.

Similarly, in the UD recording mode, as far as 100 pictures at themaximum can be recorded, and the ultra high resolution picture data iscaused to have fixed data length of 18 clusters. Accordingly, space areaof 18 clusters×100=1800 clusters is required as the picture area for theultra high resolution. For this reason, the system controller 6 carriesout, in detection of space area at the time of recording picture of theultra high resolution, retrieval of code of allocation block of area of1800 clusters succeeding to the index picture area (1 to 32 clusters)and the intermediate resolution picture area (33 to 232 clusters) fromthe disc inner circumference, i.e., areas designated by addressescorresponding to 233 to 2032 clusters to detect space area. Thus, theprocessing operation proceeds to step S45.

When such retrieval of space area is completed, the system controller 6controls, at the step S45, the disc recording/reproduction section 5cthrough the storage unit controller 5d so as to provide access to anoptimum area of the retrieved space areas. Thus, the processingoperation proceeds to step S46. As a retrieval method for optimumrecording position in this case, there may be employed a method ofrespectively carrying out space area retrievals irrespective of thedirectory to record, in order, respective data at the positions wherespace area first exists. Accordingly, recorded data are recorded inorder from the leading portions of respective areas.

At the step S46, the system controller 6 sets fixed length encodingcoefficient corresponding to high resolution picture data or ultra highresolution picture data at the thinning and compression/expansioncontroller 4i. Thus, the processing operation proceeds to step S47.

At the step S47, the system controller 6 controls thecompression/expansion circuit 4h so as to form high resolution picturedata of 8 clusters or ultra high resolution picture data of 18 clusterson the basis of the set fixed length encoding coefficients through thethinning and compression/expansion controller 4i. Thus, the processingoperation proceeds to step S48.

At the step S48, the system controller 6 controls the discrecording/reproduction section 5c so as to record the picture data whichhas been caused to undergo fixed length encoding into the detectedoptimum area on the optical disc 20 through the storage unit controller5d. Thus, the processing operation proceeds to step S49.

At the step S49, the system controller 6 carries out recording controlof the picture data, and successively determines file namescorresponding to data of picture data management file of the designatedpicture directory and resolutions of respective picture data. Thus, theprocessing operation proceeds to step S50.

At the step S50, the system controller 6 discriminates whether or notpicture data of three kinds of resolutions of low resolution picturedata (index picture), intermediate resolution picture data and highresolution picture data (or ultra high resolution picture data) havebeen all recorded. In the case of No, the processing operation returnsto step S43 to record picture data of resolution which has not yet beenrecorded. In the case of Yes, the processing operation proceeds to stepS51.

At the step S51, the system controller 6 updates related data of thedata U-TOC, the overall management information file and the picture datamanagement file recorded on the disc into respective data of the dataU-TOC, the overall management information file and the picture datamanagement file recorded in the RAM 6a. Thus, the entire routineaccording to another recording operation shown in FIG. 34 is completed.

It is to be noted that these steps S45 to S51 respectively correspond tothe above-described steps S18 to S24 sown in FIG. 33.

In such another recording operation, retrieval areas of low resolution,intermediate resolution and high resolution (or ultra high resolution)are respectively designated by addressing of allocation blocks withinthe VS stored in the RAM 6a. Namely, by only reading out data of the VSof the RAM 6a, the recording area on the disc is divided by addressing.For this reason, detection of space area can be made at high speed.

For example, it is conceivable to physically determine recordingpositions of respective areas on the disc to carry out recording.However, since area quantities used in the HD recording mode and the UDrecording mode (area of intermediate resolution and area of higherresolution) are different from each other in this case, it is necessaryto ensure the area in advance on the assumption that the area quantityis required to the maximum degree. Namely, it is necessary to ensurerespective areas of 400 clusters at the time of HD recording mode in theintermediate resolution area and 1800 clusters at the time of UD mode inthe high resolution area. For this reason, it is impossible toeffectively utilize the recording area.

In addition, while it has been described that addresses for retrieval ofspace area are designated as addresses for index, intermediateresolution and higher resolution from the disc inner circumferentialside, addresses for retrieval of space area may be designated asaddresses for index, intermediate resolution and high resolution fromthe disc outer circumferential side in a manner opposite to the above.Such addressing method may be suitably changed in accordance withdesign.

As stated above, such an approach is employed to form intermediateresolution picture data and low resolution picture data on the basis ofhigh resolution picture data which has been read out from the framememory 11 to record picture data of different resolutions of the samepicture onto the optical disc 20, thereby making it possible to selectand reproduce picture data of resolution corresponding to outputequipment or use purpose of picture data.

Namely, when only the high resolution picture data is recorded aspicture data to be recorded on the optical disc 20, in the case wherepicture image is displayed on the monitor unit, since the number ofpixels of the high resolution picture data is too great, suitablethinning processing is implemented thereto to deliver the data thusobtained to the monitor unit. However, the above-mentioned three kindsof picture data are recorded in advance, thereby making it possible todirectly the intermediate resolution picture data for monitor. For thisreason, the time required until displayed on the monitor unit can beshortened.

Moreover, since picture data of the required resolution can be directlyread out, there is no necessity of carrying out thinning processing,etc. in dependency upon equipment. Thus, the circuit for thinningprocessing, etc. can be omitted.

Further, since the above-mentioned two kinds of picture data are formedon the basis of high resolution picture data from the frame memory 11,the time required for taking in picture data can be shortened ascompared to the case where three kinds of picture data are independentlysupplied. In addition, since it is sufficient to carry out only oneread-out control of the frame memory 11, the constraint time of theframe memory 11 can be shortened.

Further, since the picture data of respective resolutions are recordedafter respectively undergone fixed length encoding, fixing ofrecording/read-out times and fixing of the recording number of picturescan be realized. In addition, since data size to be handled is fixed,the configuration of the file management system can be simplified.

8. [Description of the Third Recording Operation]

The third recording operation in which the system controller 6 records,onto the optical disc 20, high resolution picture data and intermediateresolution picture data, and records index picture data into overallindex file (OV INDX. PMX).

This overall index file is caused to undergo management by overallinformation management file, and is file in which what index picturesare recorded in respective picture directories are edited as a singlefile.

For example, in this example, in the case where five picture directoriesincluding 25 index pictures are formed, respective one index pictures ofthe leading portions of respective directories are taken out to recordrespective pictures in order to form overall index file consisting offive index pictures. In addition, in the case where the number ofpicture directories is set to smaller value, leading five pictures ofindex pictures may be respectively taken out from respective directoriesto form overall index file.

This overall index file is formed at the time of format for picturedata. For this reason, such overall index file is already formed inrecording picture.

The operation for forming the overall index file is as indicated by theflowchart of FIG. 35. The processing operation by the flowchart shown inFIG. 35 starts when discrimination result of Yes is provided at step S10of FIG. 32. Thus, the processing operation proceeds to step S61. It isto be noted that the routine before the step S10 is entirely the same,their description is omitted.

Subsequently, at step S61, the system controller 6 reads out the overallindex file into the main memory 11a. Thus, the processing operationproceeds to step S62.

At the step S62, the system controller 6 controls the discrecording/reproduction section 5c through the storage unit controller 5dso as to read out all picture data recorded in the picture index file ofthe designated picture directory, and carries out a control fortransferring picture data of the picture index file into the main memory11a shown in FIG. 4. Thus, the processing operation proceeds to stepS63.

It is to be noted that picture data recorded after undergone fixedlength encoding along with header is read out as it is from the pictureindex file and the overall index file without allowing it to undergoexpansion decoding processing to transfer it into the main memory 11a.In addition, when no picture data is recorded within the picture indexfile and the overall index file, there is no possibility that picturedata is read out into the main memory.

At the step S63, the system controller 6 detects operation state of theoperation unit 10 to thereby whether or not designation of recordingstart is made from user. In the case of No, this step S63 is repeateduntil designation of the recording start is made. In the case of Yes,the processing operation proceeds to step S64.

At the step S64, the system controller 6 discriminates whether or notpicture to be recorded from now on is index picture. In the case of No,the processing operation proceeds to step S65. In the case of Yes, theprocessing operation proceeds to step S72.

At the step S72, the system controller 6 delivers data indicating thatpicture to be recorded from now on is index picture to the thinning andcompression/expansion controller 4i shown in FIG. 5. When the data isdelivered, the compression/expansion controller 4i sets fixed lengthencoding coefficients for index picture at the compression/expansioncircuit 4h. Thus, the processing operation proceeds to step S73.

At the step S73, the system controller 6 controls, through the thinningand compression/expansion controller 4i, the compression/expansioncircuit 4h so as to implement compression encoding processing to thepicture data which has been caused to undergo thinning processing into1/4 on the basis of the set fixed length encoding coefficients tothereby form index picture which has been caused to undergo fixed lengthencoding so as to have fixed data length of 1/15 clusters. Thus, theprocessing operation proceeds to step S74.

At the step S74, the system controller 6 discriminates, on the basis ofdata of the overall information management file stored in the RAM 6a,whether or not the index picture which has been caused to undergo fixedlength encoding at the step S73 is the index picture which is firstrecorded in the designated picture directory. In the case of No, theprocessing operation proceeds to step S81. In the case of the indexpicture, the processing operation proceeds to step S75.

At the step 81, the system controller 6 records the index picture whichhas been caused to undergo fixed length encoding into the picture indexfile. Thus, the processing operation proceeds to step S76.

At the step S75, the system controller 6 records the first index pictureinto the overall index file and the picture index. Thus, the processingoperation proceeds to step 76.

At the step S76, the system controller 6 controls the memory controller13 so as to record index picture of 4096 bytes in total in which headersare added into respective index files stored in the main memory 11ashown in FIG. 4. Thus, the processing operation proceeds to step S77.

At the step S77, the system controller 6 discriminates as to whether ornot all index pictures are recorded into the main memory 11a. In thecase of No, the processing step returns to the step S64. In the case ofYes, the processing operation proceeds to step S78.

At the step S78, the system controller 6 retrieves the portion in whichentry of 2 bits (code indicating available allocation block) ofallocation block No. of Volume Space Bitmap VS in the data U-TOC storedin the RAM 6a is "00" to thereby detect space area. Thus, the processingoperation proceeds to step S79.

At the step S79, the system controller 6 controls the discrecording/reproduction section 5c so as to provide access to thedetected space area on the optical disc 20 through the storage unitcontroller 5d. Thus, the processing operation proceeds to step S80.

At the step S80, the system controller 6 controls the discrecording/reproduction section 5c so as to record the index picture intothe space area on the optical disc 20 through the storage unitcontroller 5d. Thus, the processing operation proceeds to step S71.

As described above, in the case where the index pictures are caused toundergo fixed length encoding to record them onto the optical disc 20,before the index pictures which have been caused to undergo fixed lengthencoding are recorded onto the optical disc 20, they are temporarilyrecorded in order into the main memory 11a to thereby form one indexfile from all the index pictures in the main memory 11a thereafter torecord it into physically continuous areas on the optical disc 20.

On the other hand, when the discrimination result is No at the step S64,the processing operation proceeds to step S65. At the step S65, thesystem controller 6 detects space area on the optical disc 20 forrecording picture of intermediate resolution or picture of highresolution. Thus, the processing operation proceeds to step S66.

In more practical sense, the system controller 6 retrieves the portionin which entry of 2 bits (code indicating available allocation block) ofallocation block No. of Volume Space Bitmap VS in the data U-TOC storedin the RAM 6a is "00" to thereby carry out detection of the space area.

At the step S66, the system controller 6 detects optimum space area ofspace areas retrieved at the step S65 as described above to control thedisc recording/reproduction section 5c through the storage unitcontroller 5d so as to provide access thereto. Thus, the processingoperation proceeds to step S67.

At the step S67, the system controller 6 sets fixed length encodingcoefficients corresponding to high resolution picture data or ultra highresolution picture data at the thinning and compression/expansioncontroller 4i. Thus, the processing operation proceeds to step 68.

At the step S68, the thinning and contraction/expansion controller 4icontrols the compression/expansion circuit 4h so as to form highresolution picture data of 8 clusters or ultra high resolution picturedata of 18 clusters on the basis of the set fixed length encodingcoefficients. Thus, the processing operation proceeds to step S69.

At the step S69, the system controller 6 controls the discrecording/reproduction section 5c so as to record the picture data whichhas been caused to undergo fixed length encoding into the detectedoptimum area on the optical disc 20. Thus, the processing operationproceeds to step S70.

At the step S70, as described above, the system controller 6 carries outrecording control of the picture data, and successively determines filenames corresponding to data of the picture data management file of thedesignated directory and resolutions of respective picture data. Thus,the processing operation proceeds to step S71.

At the step S71, the system controller 6 discriminates whether or notpicture data of three kinds of resolutions of low resolution picturedata (index picture), intermediate resolution picture data and highresolution picture data (or ultra high resolution picture data) havebeen all recorded. In the case of No, the processing operation returnsto step S64 to record picture data of resolution which has not yet beenrecorded. In the case of Yes, the processing operation proceeds to stepS91 shown in FIG. 36.

When recording of picture to be recorded is completed in this way, it ispossible to carry out switching of the data of overall index picture byuser. Since setting is made such that, e.g., first index pictures ofrespective directories are recorded in advance, in the overall indexfile formed simultaneously with formation of files of respectivepictures of high resolution, intermediate resolution and index, only thefirst index pictures of respective directories are recorded. However, inthe case where user has a desire, it is possible to carry out switchingbetween the first index picture and registered in the overall managementfile and any other index picture.

The switching operation of the desired index picture is as indicated bythe routine of the step S91 and steps subsequent thereto of FIG. 36.

Namely, at the step S91 of FIG. 36, the system controller 6 carries outdisplay control of the overall index picture. Thus, the processingoperation proceeds to step S92.

At the step S92, the system controller 6 detects operation state(situation) of the operation unit 10 to thereby discriminate whether ornot designation of index picture that user desires is made. In the caseof No, this step S92 is repeated. In the case of the index picture, theprocessing operation proceeds to step S93.

Namely, at this step S92, desired index picture is designated from theoverall index file. This indicates that picture directory correspondingto the designated index picture is designated. It is to be noted, in thefollowing description, the designated picture directory is assumed to bepicture directory recorded at the n-th position.

Subsequently, at the step S93, the system controller 6 carries out acontrol to reproduce the picture index file of the n-th picturedirectory designated at the step S92 to display it on the monitor unit.Thus, the processing operation proceeds to step S94.

At the step S94, the system controller 6 detects operation state(situation) of the operation unit 10 to thereby discriminate whether ornot a desired index picture is designated from a predetermined number ofindex pictures of the picture index file displayed on the monitor unit.In the case of No, this step S94 is repeated. In the case of Yes, theprocessing operation proceeds to step S95.

Namely, at this step S94, desired index picture is designated from then-th picture index file. Namely, this indicates that index picturerecorded in place of the first index picture is designated. It is to benoted, in the following description, this designated index picture isassumed to be index picture recorded at the m-th position of the pictureindex file.

At the step S95, the system controller 6 controls the memory controller13 so as to overwrite the m-th index picture data recorded in thepicture index file of the n-th picture directory in the main memory atthe position where the n-th index picture data recorded in the overallindex file is recorded. At the same time, in the RAM 6a, index picturenumber "00001" recorded in the picture directory information unitcorresponding to the n-th picture directory, i.e., the n-th picturedirectory information unit is replaced by picture number "0000m"corresponding to the newly switched (replaced) index picture. Thus, theprocessing operation proceeds to step S96.

At the step S96, the system controller 6 controls the discrecording/reproduction section 5c so as to record the overallinformation management file onto the optical disc 20. Thus, theprocessing operation proceeds to step S97.

At the step S97, the system controller 6 updates related data of thedata U-TOC, the overall information management file and the picture datamanagement file recorded on the disc into respective data of the dataU-TOC, the overall information management file and the picture datamanagement file recorded in the RAM 6a. Thus, the entire routine iscompleted.

It is to be noted that while the above-described overall index file isadapted so that while first one index pictures of respective directoriesare recorded at the data recording time, an approach may be employedsuch that in the case where the number of directories is reduced, firstfive index pictures of respective directories are registered. Forinstance, an example in which four picture directories are formed toresister five index pictures thereof will now be described. As describedbelow, 20 units are formed so that units of picture directoryinformation correspond to 5 (pictures)×4 directories=20 (pictures) ofthe number of index pictures within the overall index file.

    ______________________________________                                                                   Index                                                                  Directory                                                                            Picture                                                                No.    No.                                                ______________________________________                                        First picture directory information                                                                 00       00                                             second picture directory information                                                                00       01                                             Third picture directory information                                                                 00       02                                             Fourth picture directory information                                                                00       03                                             Fifth picture directory information                                                                 00       04                                             Sixth picture directory information                                                                 01       00                                             Seventh picture directory information                                                               01       01                                             Eighth picture directory information                                                                01       02                                             Ninth picture directory information                                                                 01       03                                             Tenth picture directory information                                                                 01       04                                             Eleventh picture directory information                                                              02       00                                             Twelfth picture directory information                                                               02       01                                             Thirteenth picture directory information                                                            02       02                                             Fourteenth picture directory information                                                            02       03                                             Fifteenth picture directory information                                                             02       04                                               .                                                                             .                                                                             .                                                                           ______________________________________                                    

9. [Playback (Reproduction) and Display of Index Picture]

The playback (reproduction) and display operations of pictures in thestill picture filing system will now be described in more detail withreference to the flowchart of FIG. 37.

When the storage unit 5 is brought into stand-by state, the processingoperation by the flowchart shown in FIG. 37 starts to proceed to stepS120.

At the step S120, user inserts optical disc 20. Then, the processingoperation proceeds to step S121. Thus, the inserted optical disc 20 isloaded into the storage unit 5, resulting in the state where picturedata can be reproduced.

At the step S121, the system controller 6 controls the discrecording/reproduction section 5c so as to read thereinto P-TOC andU-TOC recorded on the optical disc 20 to discriminate whether or notP-TOC and U-TOC exist on the optical disc 20. In the case where therespective TOC do not exist, the processing operation proceeds to stepS139 to allow the display section 26 to undergo display control so as todisplay "disc error". In the case where the respective TOC exist, theprocessing operation proceeds to step S122.

At the step S122, the system controller 6 controls the discrecording/reproduction section 5c so as to read thereinto the P-TOC andthe U-TOC to confirm position of data U-TOC. Thus, the processingoperation proceeds to step S123. Since management of the area where datafile is formed cannot be carried out by the U-TOC, in the case wheredata file exists, it is judged that data U-TOC exists at the leadingportion thereof.

At the step S123, the system controller 6 stores data of the data U-TOCinto the RAM 6a to grasp positions of respective directories and files.Thus, the processing operation proceeds to step S124.

At the step S124, the system controller 6 discriminates whether or notthe optical disc 20 is formatted for picture recording. In morepractical sense, the system controller 6 discriminates, on the basis ofdata of the data U-TOC stored in the RAM 6a, whether or not directory(PIC₋₋ MD), overall information management file, (at least one) picturedirectory, picture data management file, and picture index file exist tothereby discriminate whether or not the optical disc 20 is formatted forpicture recording. In the case of No, the processing operation proceedsto step S140 at which the display section 26 is caused to undergodisplay control so as to display "disc error". Then, the processingoperation is completed as it is. In the case of Yes, the processingoperation proceeds to step S125.

At the step S125, the system controller 6 controls the discrecording/reproduction section 5c so as to read out all management files(overall information management file, picture data management files ofrespective directories, print control data management file, reproductioncontrol management file) through the storage unit controller 5d, andtemporarily stores, into the RAM 6a, all the management files which havebeen read out. Thus, the processing operation proceeds to step S126.

At the step S126, the system controller 6 discriminates whether or notdesignation of picture to be displayed is made. In the case of Yes, theprocessing operation proceeds to step S130. In the case of No, theprocessing operation proceeds to step S127.

At the step S127, the system controller 6 retrieves overall index filerecorded on the optical disc 20. Thus, the processing operation proceedsto step S128.

Particularly, in the case where no designation of picture directory ismade, it is necessary to display what picture data are recorded inrespective directories to cause user to designate desired picture. Forthis reason, at the step S128, the system controller 6 controls the discrecording/reproduction section 5c so as to display overall index filerecorded on the optical disc 20. Thus, the processing operation proceedsto step S129. The overall index file is file in which index picture datawhich are the same as an arbitrary one index picture of index picturedata stored in the picture index files within respective picturedirectories are registered in display order of monitor. Bymonitor-displaying the overall index file, user can carry outdesignation of desired picture directory.

At the step S129, the system controller 6 detects operation state of theoperation unit 10 to thereby discriminate, whether or not index picturethat user desires is designated, from the monitor-displayed indexpicture. In the case of No, the step S129 is repeated until thatdesignation is made. In the case of Yes, the processing operationproceeds to step S130.

At the step S130, the system controller 6 retrieves picture directorycorresponding to designated index picture. Thus, the processingoperation proceeds to step S131.

Namely, picture directory information unit (data of 48 bytes) in theoverall information management file stored in the RAM 6a are registeredby the same number as the number of index pictures (=the number ofpicture directories) displayed, and are recorded in order so as tocorrespond to the display order of index pictures. For example,explanation will be given by taking the example where the second indexpicture displayed is designated by the overall information managementfile. Initially, picture directory information unit of 48 bytescorresponding to the designated second index picture is recorded at thesecond portion from the leading portion. In the directory No. of thesecond picture directory information unit, data of "00001" is recorded.By this data, it is understood (recognized) that the directory in whichthis index picture is recorded is picture directory of the secondPIC0001.

At the step S131, the system controller 6 retrieves picture index filewithin the directory retrieved at the step S130. Thus, the processingoperation proceeds to step S132.

At the step S132, the system controller 6 allows the monitor unit 9 toundergo display control so as to display the first picture index files(including index pictures corresponding to 25 pictures) within theretrieved directory. Thus, the processing operation proceeds to stepS133.

At the step S133, the system controller 6 detects operation state of theoperation unit 10 to thereby discriminate whether or not designation ofpicture that user desires is made from index pictures displayed on themonitor unit 9. In the case of No, the processing operation proceeds tostep S134. In the case of Yes, the processing operation proceeds to stepS136.

At the step S134, the system controller 6 detects the operation state ofthe operation unit 10 to thereby discriminate whether or not designationof display of the next picture index file (including index picturescorresponding to the remaining 25 pictures) is made. In the case of No,the processing operation returns to the above-described step S133. Inthe case of Yes, the processing operation proceeds to step S135.

At the step S135, the system controller 6 allows the monitor unit 9 toundergo display control so as to display index pictures corresponding tothe remaining 25 pictures thereon. Thus, the processing operationreturns to the above-described step S133.

On the other hand, at the step S133, in the case where it isdiscriminated that designation of index picture is made, the processingoperation proceeds to step S136. At this step, the system controller 6retrieves high resolution picture file or intermediate resolutionpicture file corresponding to the designated index picture. Thus, theprocessing operation proceeds to step S137.

In more practical sense, the system controller 6 selects picture datamanagement file corresponding to the picture directory in whichdisplayed index file exists from respective picture data managementfiles of respective picture directories stored in the RAM 6a. In thepicture information units (16 bytes) of the selected picture datamanagement file, there are registered picture information units havingthe same number as the number (N) of indices registered in the pictureindex file. In addition, these picture information units are recorded inorder so as to correspond to the order of displayed indices.

For example, explanation will now be given in connection with the casewhere 25 index pictures displayed by the picture index file are indexfile of the first picture directory and the fourth index picture isdesignated from that index file. Initially, since the displayed indexfile is the index file of the first picture directory, the systemcontroller 6 initially makes reference to data of the first picture datamanagement file in the RAM 6a. When the fourth index picture isdesignated by user, the system controller 6 carries out retrieval of thefourth picture information unit of the picture data management file towhich reference has been made. In the data of the retrieved pictureinformation unit, data of "00000" is recorded as the directory No. anddata of "00003" is recorded as picture information. Accordingly, withrespect to the picture file of high resolution corresponding to thedesignated index picture, file name in the picture directory "PIC00000"is judged to be "PHP00003". With respect to the picture file ofintermediate resolution, file name in the picture directory "PIC00000"is judged to be "PSN00003".

It is to be noted that when index picture is selected as described aboveto retrieve picture files of high resolution and intermediate resolutioncorresponding thereto, an approach is employed such that, on the basisof data in the picture information unit of the picture data managementfile, picture file corresponding thereto is necessarily retrieved.

For example, when position of the index picture is changed by editing,etc. which will be described later, any difference takes place betweenthe display order of index pictures and the picture No. of picturefiles. However, in the still picture filing system, since the displayorder of the index pictures and picture No. of picture files are incorrespondence with each other, even in the case where display order ofindex pictures is changed, correspondence relationship between indexpictures and picture files of high resolution and intermediateresolution is attained by the picture information unit of the picturedata management file. The detail thereof will be described in thechapter of "Edit of picture" which will be referred to later.

At the step S137, the system controller 6 detects operation state of theoperation unit 10 to thereby discriminate whether or not monitor displayof the retrieved picture file of the intermediate resolution isdesignated. In the case of Yes, the processing operation proceeds tostep S138. In the case of No, this step S137 is repeated.

At the step S138, the system controller 6 controls the discrecording/reproduction section 5c so as to read out data of theretrieved picture file of intermediate resolution to allow the monitorunit 9 to undergo display control so as to display the picture file ofintermediate resolution reproduced by such an operation, and todiscriminate whether or not designation of printout of the retrievedpicture file of high resolution is made. As a result, in the case of No,the step S138 is repeated. On the other hand, in the case of Yes, thesystem controller 6 controls the disc recording/reproduction section 5cso as to read out the retrieved picture file of high resolution todeliver it to the printer unit 2 through the main memory 11a. Thus, theentire routine of reproduction and display of the index picture shown inFIG. 37 is completed.

In this example, at the printer unit 2 to which the picture file of highresolution has been delivered, high resolution picture data delivered asrespective data of R, G, B are converted into yellow (Y), magenta (M)and cyan (C) to print these data onto the printer paper by the thermalhead in order from the Y data.

10. [Retrieval of File and Picture Directory]

Explanation will be given in connection with the case where, e.g.,picture file f5 (PSN00000. PMP) is retrieved with reference to thehierarchical structure of file which has been described with referenceto the FIG. 19 mentioned above, etc. This retrieval operation is asindicated by the flowchart of FIG. 38. The processing operation by theflowchart shown in FIG. 38 starts when data of the data U-TOC is storedinto the RAM 6a and desired picture directory and file name aredesignated by user to proceed to step S141.

At the step S141, the system controller 6 retrieves, on the basis ofVolume Descriptor (VD) of the volume management area, block No. of thefirst Directory Record Block (DRB) indicating directory (PIC-MD). Thus,the processing operation proceeds to step S142.

In more practical sense, position of DRB within the management block isrecorded in terms of the block No. by data indicating position of thefirst directory record block of the VD. In this still picture filingsystem, block No. of the first DRB is expressed as "0004" as describedabove. Accordingly, the system controller 6 judges that DRB forindicating directory D1 (PIC-MD) is DRB indicated by the managementblock number "0004".

Subsequently, at step S142, the system controller 6 discriminates, bymaking reference to entry of the management block in MT, whether or notthe designated DRB is single DRB or successive DRBs. In the case ofsingle DRB, the processing operation proceeds to step S143. In the casewhere DRB is not single, the processing operation proceeds to step S147.

It is to be noted that since DRB of the management block number "0004"is single DRB in the file hierarchical structure shown in FIG. 20, theprocessing operation proceeds to step S143.

At the step S143, the system controller 6 retrieves DR unit fordirectory for indicating recording position of picture directory D2(PIC00000) where picture file f5 exists from plural DR units provided inthe DRB indicating directory D1.

In the file hierarchical structure shown in FIG. 19, since the third DRunit of the DRB indicating directory D1 is DR unit for directory forindicating recording position of picture directory D2, DR unit fordirectory which is the third DR unit is retrieved. In the DR unit fordirectory which is the third DR unit, "Index to DRB" is recorded. Bymanagement block number recorded as "Index to DRB", block position ofDRB indicating picture directory D2 is designated. Namely, since "0005"is recorded as data of "Index to DRB" in the file hierarchical structureshown in FIG. 19, it is judged that DRB for indicating picture directoryD2 is DRB indicated by management block number "0005".

On the other hand, at the step S147, the system controller 6 retrievesin order DR units within the DRB to judge whether or not DR unit fordirectory for indicating designated picture directory exists. In thecase of No (i.e., in the case where no DR unit indicating designatedpicture directory exists within the linked first DRB), the processingoperation proceeds to step S148. In the case of Yes (i.e., in the casewhere DR unit indicating designated picture directory exists within thelinked first DRB), the processing operation proceeds to step S144. It isto be noted that in the case where picture file f5 is retrieved in thefile hierarchical structure of FIG. 20. since DRB indicating directoryD1 (PIC-MD) and DRB indicating picture directory D2 (PIC00000) are bothsingle DRB, these steps S147 and S148 are not used.

At the step S144, the system controller 6 judges whether or not the DRunit for directory retrieved at the step S143 is DR unit for directoryindicating designated directory. Since the file structure used in thisstill picture filing system is tree structure as shown in FIG. 19,whether or not the retrieved directory is the last directory (directoryof the lowermost layer (level)) in the process coming to the designateddirectory. In this example, in retrieving picture file f5 in the filehierarchical structure of FIG. 19, picture directory D2 indicated atstep S143 is the lowermost layer (level) directory. For this reason,judgment result at the step S144 becomes Yes. The processing operationproceeds to step S145.

At the step S145, the system controller 6 retrieves DR unit for file forindicating recording position of picture file f5 from plural DR unitprovided in DRB for indicating the picture directory D2 retrieved at thestep S143.

Namely, in the file hierarchical structure shown in FIG. 19, the thirdDR unit of DRB indicating picture directory D2 is DR unit for file forindicating picture file f5. For this reason, DR unit for file which isthe third DR unit is retrieved by this step S145. In the DR unit forfile, "Extent Start Location" is recorded. By the allocation blocknumber recorded as "Extent Start Location", recording position of thepicture file f5 is designated. Thus, the processing operation proceedsto step S146.

At the step S146, the system controller 6 provides an access to theallocation block position retrieved at the step S145 within the fileextents area to confirm that the picture file f5 exists at the positionto which access has been made. It is possible to reproduce picture filef5 with the access position being as the leading portion.

In this still picture filing system, since retrieval of picture files iscarried out in a manner as described above, the number of physicalread-in operations for file retrieval can be reduced. Thus, picturefiles within picture directories caused to be of the hierarchicaldirectory structure can be retrieved with ease and at a high speed.

Moreover, since information relating to the hierarchical directorystructure are concentrated into the second area (volume managementarea), in the case of reading out information necessary for fileretrieval, it is sufficient to provide access only to the volumemanagement area. For this reason, recording position of file can begrasped. Accordingly, the number of picture files can be reduced, andthe read-out operation of the picture files are thus carried out at ahigh speed.

In addition, since any large capacity of data such as picture data, etc.is not recorded in the volume management area, but only management datais recorded, such data are very suitable for storing them into the RAM.Thus, once such management data is caused to be stored into the RAM, thenumber of access operations to the optical disc for the purpose ofretrieving file can be further reduced.

11. [Edit of Picture]

When recording of picture is completed, it becomes possible to carry outediting of index pictures by selection of user. The editing of picturerefers to, e.g., work for moving picture data of a certain picturedirectory to another picture director, and work for carrying outswitching of index pictures within the same directory to change displayorder of index pictures, etc.

The case where index picture displayed at the fifth position within thefirst directory is moved to the tenth display position of the seconddirectory will be described below as an example with reference to theflowchart of FIG. 39.

The processing operation by the flowchart shown in FIG. 39 starts whenrecording of a desired picture is completed and user allows the editdesignation key to be turned ON to proceed to step S151.

At the step S151, the system controller 6 controls the discrecording/reproduction section 5c so as to read out index file of (thefirst) picture directory of movement source to display 25 indexpictures. Thus, the processing operation proceeds to step S152 (see thechapter of reproducing operation).

At the step S152, the system controller 6 discriminates whether or notindex picture to be moved within the picture directory of movementsource is designated (whether or not index picture displayed at thefifth position (location) of the first directory is designated). In thecase of No, this step S152 is repeated. In the case of Yes, theprocessing operation proceeds to step S153.

At the step S153, the system controller 6 detects operation state of theoperation unit 10 to thereby discriminate whether or not picturedirectory of movement destination and movement position are designated(the original picture is moved to the tenth index picture of the seconddirectory in the case of this example). In the case of No, this stepS153 is repeated. In the case of Yes, the processing operation proceedsto step S154.

At the step S154, the system controller 6 controls the discrecording/reproduction section 5c, etc. so as to read out all indexpictures of index file of picture directory of movement source and allindex pictures of index file of picture directory of movementdestination into the main memory 11a. Thus, the processing operationproceeds to step S155.

At the step S155, the system controller 6 controls the memory controller13 so as to move only the designated index picture (including header aswell) from the index file of source of movement (first picturedirectory) to index file of destination of movement (second picturedirectory). Thus, the processing operation proceeds to step S156.

Namely, in the picture index file, respective index pictures have fixedcapacity of 4096 bytes in all including the header and the data body.Accordingly, since, in this example, 4096 bytes subsequent to 4096×3bytes from the leading portion of the index file is determined to bedata of the fourth index picture (including header as well), position ofindex picture within the picture index file can be easily grasped.Similarly, since destination of movement of data of the index picture(4096 bytes) to be moved is designated to be area subsequent to 4096×9bytes of index file of (the second) directory of destination ofmovement, corresponding index picture is inserted into the area. Theinsertion mentioned here refers to the fact that corresponding indexpicture is inserted into the portion between the eighth index pictureand the ninth index picture, but does not refer to the fact that it isoverwritten onto the ninth index picture.

Subsequently, at the step S156, the system controller 6 controls thememory controller 13 so as to delete (erase) the moved index picture ofthe index file of source of movement to update file to supplement themoved index picture of the index file of destination of movement. Then,the system controller 6 updates the file of destination of movement.Thus, the processing operation proceeds to step S157.

At the step S157, the system controller 6 re-records, at the sameportion on the disc, the index file of the source of movement and theindex file of the destination of movement which have been respectivelyedited. Thus, the processing operation proceeds to step S158. It is tobe noted that if there is any other portion where the area can beensured in place of the same portion, that portion may be employed(utilized).

At the step S158, the system controller 6 moves, in the RAM 6a, pictureinformation unit recorded at the fifth recording position of pluralpicture information units (16 bytes) which have been recorded within thepicture data management file of source of movement (first directory) tothe tenth picture information unit within the picture data managementfile of destination of movement (second directory) without changingdata. Thus, the processing operation proceeds to step S159. It is to benoted that any updating of data is not implemented to files of picturedata of high resolution and intermediate resolution.

Subseqently, at the step S159, the system controller 6 discriminateswhether or not eject operation is designated at the operation unit 10.In the case of No, this step S159 is repeated. In the case of Yes, theprocessing operation proceeds to step S160.

At the step S160, the system controller 6 controls the discrecording/reproduction section 5c so as to read out data U-TOC, overallinformation management file and picture data management file in the RAM6a to write them onto the disc to thereby update the respective data.Thus, the entire routine according to the editing operation of pictureis completed.

A recording medium adapted to be provided with header in which data forcarrying out correspondence with display order of index pictures isrecorded at the leading portion of the file of high resolution orintermediate resolution picture data is taken as an example here. Whenattempt is made to carry out editing as described above in such arecording medium, it is possible to establish correspondence withdisplay order of index pictures by rewriting data of the header.However, it is necessary for rewriting data of the header to temporarilyread out all data of picture file (including picture data as well), withthe result that it takes much time in reproduction (playback) from thedisc.

In the above-described editing operation in this still picture filingsystem, however, an approach is employed such that, with respect to theindex file, switching of physical position on the disc is carried out inaccordance with the order actually displaced, but, with respect to thepicture data of high resolution and intermediate resolution, switchingof data of picture information unit within the picture data managementfile which has been read into the RAM 6a is carried out without carryingout any change of position on the disc. Further, correspondence betweenthe display order of index pictures and high resolution picture file andintermediate picture file can be ensured only by such switching(replacement) between respective data. For this reason, rewriteoperation is required only for switching of index pictures within theindex file and rewriting of picture data management file in the RAM 6a.Accordingly, rewrite data can be extremely reduced. Thus, rewrite workcan be carried out at a high speed.

Moreover, since physical position on the disc of the index picture ischanged so that the index files take the same order as the displayorder, it is possible to realize high speed read-out operation of indexfile.

Further, also when order of display of index pictures is changed withinthe same index file of the same picture directory, such a change can becarried out by similar control. For example, in the case of changingdisplay order so as to display the seventh index picture within the sameindex file at the second position (location), all data of the index fileare first once read out from the disc into the main memory 11a to movethe seventh index picture to the second recording position to edit theindex file in the main memory thereafter to re-record it onto the disc.On the other hand, in the RAM 6a, within the picture data managementfile, the seventh picture information unit of 16 bytes is inserted intothe second position without changing data. Namely, also in the casewhere order of display of index pictures is changed within the samepicture directory, only the index file and the picture information unitin the RAM are rewritten, but actual picture data are not rewritten.

12. [Description of Index Print]

The index print will be described below. The index print described belowmeans an operation for printing index pictures onto an index cardaccommodated within a cassette case for accommodating a disc cassettetherewithin.

Explanation will be given below in more practical sense with referenceto the attached drawings. Initially, index cards 50 onto which indexpicture is subjected to print (i.e., printed) in this still picturefiling system are printed in such a manner that plural ones are arrangedon a print paper 40 as shown in FIG. 40. In a first embodiment of theindex print in this still picture filing system, print paper of A4 sizeis used as the print paper 40. Eight index cards 50 are arranged on theprint paper 40 of A4 size, and plural index pictures are printedthereonto. On respective index cards 50, pairs of picture print portions51 and related information print portions 52 are respectively printed by25. Within the picture print portion 51, index picture data is printed.Moreover, within the related information print portion 52, characters ofnumber "4" indicating picture directory, "U" indicating the recordingmode of high resolution picture data, and "5" indicating picture No. areprinted. It is to be noted that detailed explanation relating torespective related information recorded within the related informationprint portion 52 will be given later. Then, the index cards 50 printedout on the print paper 40 are cut along cutting lines 41 so that theyare separated (divided) into eight index cards 50 having dimensions oflength of 6.3 cm and breadth of 9.0 cm. The dimensions (length of 6.3cm×breadth of 9.0 cm) of this index card 50 are set in advance so as tohave dimensions such that the index card can be accommodated intocassette case which will be described later.

The cassette case 60 for accommodating a disc cassette 30 includes, asshown in FIG. 41, a cassette accommodating portion 61 for accommodatingthe disc cassette 30, and a cover portion 62. At the cover portion 62,holding portions 63 for holding the index card 50 are provided. Theeight index cards 50 respectively cut out are stacked and areaccommodated at the internal side of the cover portion 62 so that theyare held by the holding portions 63.

By taking out eight index cards 50 accommodated within the cassette case60, it is possible to carry out, as a list, visual observation of indexpictures printed on the eight index cards 50 without work for loadingthe disc into the reproducing unit to reproduce picture data recorded onthe disc to confirm them. Accordingly, user can easily discriminate thatindex pictures are recorded.

While, in the first embodiment of the index print, print paper of A4size is used as the print paper 40, index pictures may be printed on aprint paper of dimensions (length of 6.3 cm×breadth of 9.0 cm) of theindex card in order to omit the work for printing index picturesthereafter to carry out cutting work along the cutting lines 41. In sucha case, eight index print operations are carried out.

In a second embodiment of the index print in this still picture filingsystem, an index card as shown in FIG. 42 is prepared. On a print paper90, a cutting frame 91 indicating outer shape of an index card 80 andthe index card 80 including 25 index pictures are printed out. Thisindex card 80 is composed of a surface portion 80a, a rear portion 80band a back portion 80c. Bending (folding) lines 85 indicating theboundary between the surface portion 80a and the rear portion 80b andthe boundary between the rear portion 80b and the back portion 80c arerespectively provided therebetween so that they can be bent (folded). Atthe surface portion 80a, similarly to the above-described index card 50,25 picture print portions 81 within which index pictures are printed and25 related information print portion 82 within which related informationrelating to the index pictures are respectively printed are provided.Data similar to the above-described related information print portion 52is printed within the related information print portion 82. Further, atthe surface portion 80a, a picture directory print portion 83 withinwhich picture directory name is printed is provided in order to indicatepicture directory within which printed index picture data is included.At the rear portion 80b, a disc name print portion 84 within which discname for indicating directory name is printed is provided.

The index card 80 is cut along the cutting frame 91 from the print paper90 in which print-out has been completed. The index card 80 thus cut isbent along the bending lines 85 as shown in FIG. 43. Further, the indexcard 80 is accommodated in such a manner that its surface portion 80acorrespond to the cover portion 62 of the cassette case 60.

Since the cassette case 60 is formed by transparent plastic material,the index card 80 is accommodated as described above, thereby making itpossible to visually recognize the index picture printed on the surfaceportion 80a of the index card 80. Accordingly, user can carry out, as alist, visual observation of index pictures printed on the surfaceportion 80a of the index card 80 without allowing user to load the discinto the reproducing unit to reproduce picture data recorded on the discto confirm them. Thus, user can easily discriminate what picture isrecorded on the disc.

In addition, in the index print of the second embodiment, sinceinformation for preparing the index card such as cutting frame 91 andbending line 85, etc. is printed simultaneously with the index picturedata, processing of the index card can be easily carried out.

While it has been described in the above-described first and secondembodiments that index picture is printed on the print paper to prepareindex card, an approach may be employed, as shown in FIG. 44, forexample, to print picture of reduced size, album name and disc name asdescribed above, etc., on a disc label 99 in a seal form to stick thisdisc label 99 on the disc cassette 30.

Thus, when user only observes the disc label 99 on the surface of thedisc cassette 30, he can easily grasp picture and/or disc name, etc.recorded on the optical disc 28.

In addition, in place of the above-described bending line 85, anapproach may be employed to print perforation positions of punch holes.In this case, user can punch through printed punch holes to make filingof index cards, e.g., at file, etc. to retain them.

Alternatively, even if, in place of the bending line 85, an approach isemployed to print color of the back cover portion 86 in a mannerdifferent from color of the print paper to indicate processing position,user easily grasps bending positions of the index card similarly to theabove-described embodiments. Thus, processing of the index card can beeasily carried out.

13. [Description of the Operation of Index Print]

In this still picture filing system, after recording of all picture dataonto the disc have been completed, the index print can be carried out.Namely, after the step S24 in the first recording operation, after thestep S51 in the second recording operation, or after the step S97 in thethird recording operation, index print can be carried out.

Initially, the operation of the first index print will now be describedin more practical sense with reference to the flow shown in FIG. 45. Thefirst index print operation is the operation when the index card of thefirst embodiment shown in FIG. 40 is printed.

The operation flow of the first index card starts when the step S24 ofthe operation flow shown in the FIG. 33 mentioned above, the step S51 ofthe operation flow shown in the FIG. 34 mentioned above, or the step S97of the operation flow shown in FIG. 36 mentioned above is completed.Thus, the operation flow proceeds to step S200.

At the step S200, whether or not index print is carried out is judged.For example, sentence of "Whether or not you carry out index print ?" isdisplayed on the monitor. In the case where operator responds to thisdisplay to designate index print, the processing operation proceeds tostep S201.

At the step S201, selection of the print mode is judged. As the printmode, there are two print modes of the high resolution print mode andthe low resolution print mode. The high resolution print mode is themode for generating plural print picture data printed on the index cardby the intermediate resolution picture data. In addition, the lowresolution print mode is the mode for generating print picture dataprinted on the index card by the low resolution picture data recordedwithin the index picture file, i.e., index picture data. At this stepS201, in the case where operator designates high resolution print mode,the processing operation proceeds to step S202. In the case whereoperator designates low resolution print mode, the processing operationproceeds to step S211.

Initially, the high resolution print mode will be described below.Namely, when the high resolution print mode is designated at the stepS201, the processing operation proceeds to step S202.

At this step S202, the intermediate resolution file is retrieved.Initially, the system controller 6 makes reference to directory No. andpicture No. of the picture data management file stored in the RAM 6a todesignate the picture directory and the picture file. The designatedpicture directory is the directory where the directory number "mmmmm" isminimum. Namely, in the example of the file structure shown in FIG. 19,"PIC00000" is first designated. Moreover, as the intermediate resolutionfile, file where the picture number "nnnnn" is the minimum of thedesignated directory is designated. In the example of the file structureshown in FIG. 19, file of "PSN00000. PMP" is first designated. At thisstep S202, when the file name is designated by the system controller 6,the processing operation proceeds to step S203.

At the step S203, the system controller 6 controls the storage unitcontroller 5d so as to retrive, on the disc, the file designated at thestep S202 to read out it. The retrieval operation of the file is carriedout in accordance with the operation flow of FIG. 38 which has beendescribed in the previously mentioned chapter of [retrieval of file andpicture directory]. Further, intermediate resolution picture data of theintermediate resolution file which has been read out from the storageunit 5 is caused to undergo JPEG expansion, and is stored into the mainmemory 11a of the picture processing block 3. When read-out operation ofthe intermediate resolution picture data is completed by the step S203,the processing operation proceeds to step S204.

At the step S204, picture processing is carried out with respect to theintermediate resolution picture data recorded in the main memory 11a. Asshown in FIG. 46, this picture processing is the processing for thinningintermediate resolution picture data including data of 640 pixels×480pixels so that the data quantity is decreased, thus to generateintermediate/low resolution picture data of 256 pixels×192 pixels. Thereduction quantity of picture data by this picture processing isautomatically set in accordance with resolution of the printer unit 2side by the system controller 6. In this embodiment, since the systemcontroller 6 recognizes that the resolution of the printer unit 2 is 300DPI, it is judged that 256 pixels×192 pixels are most suitable for theprinter having resolution of 300 DPI. The intermediate/low resolutionpicture data caused to have 256 pixels×192 pixels as the result ofreduction of data quantity is stored into a predetermined address of themain memory 11a. Thus, the processing operation proceeds to step S205.

At the step S205, related information data is synthesized with theintermediate/low resolution picture data of 256 pixels×192 pixels storedin the main memory 11a. This related information data is informationrelating to the high resolution file related to the intermediateresolution file designated at the step S202. This related informationdata is printed into the area of related information print portion 52shown in FIG. 40.

This related information data will now be described in a more practicalsense. The related information data includes data of picture directoryNo., recording mode of high resolution picture data, and picture No.,etc.

Initially, how data relating to the picture directory No. and thepicture No. subjected to print as the related data will be describedbelow.

Since the directory name of the intermediate resolution file isdesignated on the basis of directory No. of the picture data managementfile stored in the RAM 6a at the previously mentioned step S202, data ofthe picture directory No. to be printed is determined by the picturedirectory number designated at this step S202. Similarly, since filename of the intermediate resolution file is designated on the basis ofthe picture No. of the picture data management file stored in the RAM 6aat the previously mentioned step S202, data of picture No. to be printedis determined by the picture No. designated at the step S202.

How the recording mode of high resolution picture data subjected toprint as the related information data is obtained will now be described.

The recording mode is data indicating whether high resolution picturedata is recorded by the HD recording mode (1024 pixels×1536 pixels) orthe UD mode (2048 pixels×3072 pixels). As previously described, at thestep S7 in the above-described operation flow shown in FIG. 32, operatornecessarily selects the HD recording mode or the UD recording mode. Therecording mode selected at the step S7 is recorded as picture kindinformation within picture information units provided by the number ofrespective picture files within the picture data management file. Forexample, if the recording mode is the HD recording mode, data indicatedby "b2h" is recorded into the RAM 6a as picture kind information. If therecording mode is the UD recording mode, data indicated by "b5h" isrecorded into the RAM 6a as picture kind information. Accordingly, atthis step S204, the high resolution file related to the intermediateresolution file designated at the step S202 is first designated. Namely,high resolution file of the same picture No. is designated. Then,picture information unit corresponding to the designated high resolutionfile is retrieved from the RAM 6a to make reference to picture kindinformation within the retrieved picture information unit to therebydetermine recording mode in which data is printed as related informationdata. If the high resolution picture data is recorded in the HDrecording mode, character "H" is printed. If such data is recorded inthe UD recording mode, character "U" is printed.

While the case where data relating to the picture directory No., thepicture number and the recording mode are printed as related informationdata has been described in the above-described example, data such aspicture individual information, link information and/or key wordretrieval data No., etc. recorded within the picture information unitcan be easily recorded without being limited to the above-mentioneddata.

When all related information data are printed at the step S205, theprocessing operation proceeds to step S206.

At the step S206, whether or not intermediate/low resolution picturedata is prepared from all intermediate resolution picture data isjudged. In more practical sense, reference is made to directory No.recorded within the overall information management file and picture No.recorded within the picture data management file in the RAM 6a. At thistime, in the case where the directory No. is the last No. and thepicture No. is the last number, it is judged that the intermediate/lowresolution picture data have been prepared from all intermediateresolution picture data. Thus, the processing operation proceeds to stepS208. In any one of the case where the directory No. is not the last No.and the case where the picture No. is not the last No., it is judgedthat the intermediate resolution picture data which has not yet beenretrieved is left. Thus, the processing operation proceeds to step S207.

At the step S207, the system controller 6 designates the nextintermediate resolution file of the intermediate resolution filedesignated at the step S202. In more practical sense, the intermediateresolution picture file having picture No. in which the picture No.designated at the step S202 is incremented is designated. If theincremented picture No. does not exist, it is judged that theintermediate resolution picture file no longer exists withincorresponding picture directory. Thus, the intermediate resolutionpicture file having the minimum picture number of the next picturedirectory is designated. In the example of the file structure shown inFIG. 19, "PSN0001. PMP" is designated as the next file of the file of"PSN00000. PMP" designated at the step S202. When the next file name isdesignated by the system controller 6, the processing operation returnsto the step S203.

Until the intermediate/low resolution picture data is prepared from allintermediate resolution picture data, respective steps of step S203-stepS204-step S205-step S206 step S207-step S203 are repeated. When theintermediate resolution picture data have been generated from allintermediate resolution picture data, the processing operation proceedsto step S208.

At the step S208, all intermediate/low resolution picture data stored inthe main memory 11a and template picture recorded in advance within thesystem controller 6 are synthesized. This template picture data ispicture data consisting of picture data indicating cutting line 41 andpicture data indicating character such as "PICTURE MD INDEX", etc.

At step S209, the system controller 6 controls the picture processingcontroller 14 so as to transfer picture data stored in the main memory11a to the printer unit 2.

At step S210, the system controller 6 conducts a control to convertpicture data transferred to the printer unit 2 into YMC data to carryout print-out thereof. Thus, the processing operation is completed.

The low resolution print mode will now be described. Namely, when thelow resolution mode is designated at the step S201, the processingoperation proceeds to step S211.

At the step S211, the index picture file is retrieved. Explanation willbe given in more practical sense. The system controller 6 makesreference to directory No. of picture directory information unitsprovided by the number of picture directories within the overallinformation management file stored in the RAM 6a to thereby designatethe picture directory and the index picture file. The designated picturedirectory is the directory of the minimum directory number "mmmmm". Inthe example of the file structure shown in FIG. 19, "PIC00000" isdesignated. In addition, as the index picture file, file of the minimumindex No. "nnn" within the designated directory is designated.Accordingly, in the example of the file structure shown in FIG. 19,"PINDX000. PMX" is designated. When the index picture file is designatedby the system controller 6, the processing operation proceeds to stepS212.

At the step S212, the system controller 6 controls the storage unitcontroller 5d so as to retrieve, on the disc, index picture filedesignated at the step S211. The retrieval operation of file is carriedout in accordance with the operation flow of FIG. 38 which has beendescribed at the chapter of the previously described [retrieval of fileand picture directory]. Plural low resolution picture data included inthe index picture file (index picture data) which have been read outfrom the storage unit 5 consist of N headers and N index picture data asshown in, FIG. 29(a). Moreover, as has been described above, this indexpicture data has resolution of 60 pixels×80 pixels. These N indexpicture data are caused to undergo JPEG expansion by making reference tothe header, and are stored in order into the main memory 11a of thepicture processing block 3. When read-out operation of N index picturedata is completed at the step S212, the processing operation proceeds tostep S213.

At the step S213, related information data is synthesized with N indexpicture data stored in the memory 11a. Since this related informationdata is data similar to the related information data which has beenexplained at the step S205, its explanation is omitted. It is to benoted that while it has been described at the step S205 that every timeone intermediate resolution picture file is designated, one relatedinformation data is obtained, an approach is employed at this step S213such that every time one index picture file is designated, N relatedinformation data are obtained so as to correspond to N index picturesincluded within corresponding index picture file.

How N (number of) related information data are obtained in a morepractical sense will be described below. As shown in FIGS. 25(a)-25(b),N picture information units are stored in the picture data managementfile stored in the RAM 6a. Data relating to the directory No., thepicture No. and picture kind information are respectively stored inthese N picture information units. Accordingly, by making reference tothe N picture information units of the picture data management fileexisting in the picture directory within which the index picture filedesignated at the step S211 is included, it is possible to obtain Ndirectory numbers, N picture numbers and N picture kind information. TheN related information data thus obtained are stored into the main memory11a in the state related to the N index picture data stored in the mainmemory 11a. It is to be noted that since the storage order of N pictureinformation units stored in the picture data management file is the sameas the storage order of N index picture data stored in the index picturefile as previously explained, it is easy to allow N related informationand N index picture data to be related to each other.

When N related information data are stored into the main memory 11a atthe step S213, the processing operation proceeds to step S214.

At the step S214, whether or not all index picture files have been readout from the disc is judged. In more practical sense, reference is madeto the directory No. of the overall information management file and thenext picture index file No. within the picture data management filewhich are stored in the RAM 6a. At this time, in the case where thedirectory No. is the last No. and the next picture index file No. is thelast No., it is judged that all index picture files have been read outfrom the disc. Thus, the processing operation proceeds to step S216. Inthe case where the directory No. is not the last No., or in the casewhere the picture No. is not the last No., it is judged that any indexpicture file which has not yet been designated is left. Thus, theprocessing operation proceeds to step S215.

At the step S215, the system controller 6 designates the second indexpicture file which is the next file of the first index picture filedesignated at the step S211. In more practical sense, index picture filehaving file number in which the file number designated at the step S211is incremented is designated. If the incremented index picture file doesnot exist, it is judged that further index picture file does not existwithin corresponding picture directory to designate the index picturefile of the minimum file No. of the next picture directory. Explanationwill be given with reference to the example of the file structure shownin FIG. 19. The next file of the file of "PINDX000. PMX" designated atthe step S211 does not exist within the picture directory "PIC00000".Accordingly, the first index picture file "PINDX000. PMX" of the nextpicture directory "PIC00001" is designated. When the second indexpicture file name is designated by the system controller 6, theprocessing operation returns to the step S212.

Explanation will now be given in connection with the case where thesecond index picture file is read out from the disc at the step S212 tostore M index picture data included within the second index picture fileinto the main memory 11a. When the second index picture file isdesignated at the step S215, the N index picture data which have beenread out from the first index picture file are already stored in themain memory 11a. Accordingly, M index picture data which have been newlyread out from the disc are stored into the main memory 11a as the (N+1,N+2, N+3, N+4, . . . , N+M)-th index picture data so that they arearranged (allocated) after the previously stored N index picture data.Moreover, index picture data which are read out from the second indexpicture file and index picture files succeeding thereto are similarlystored into the main memory 11a so that they are arranged (allocated)after the previously stored index picture data.

Until all index picture files are read out, respective steps of stepS212-step S213-step S214-step S215-step S212 are repeated. When read-outoperations of all the index picture files are completed, all the indexpicture data are continuously stored in the main memory 11a.

At step S216, all the index picture data stored in the main memory 11aand template picture data stored in advance in the system controller 6are synthesized. This template picture data is picture data consistingof picture data indicating cutting line 41, and picture data indicatingcharacter such as "PICTURE MD INDEX", etc.

At step S217, the system controller 6 conducts a control to convert thepicture data transferred to the printer unit 2 into YMC data to carryout print-out thereof. Thus, the processing operation is completed.

It is to be noted that, in this low resolution mode, index picture dataof 60 pixels×80 pixels obtained from the index picture file may betransferred to the printer unit 2 thereafter to carry out interpolatingprocessing into 192 pixels×256 pixels so that the data quantity isincreased as shown in FIG. 47.

Further, the second index print operation will be described below withreference to the operation flow shown in FIG. 45.

This second index print operation is the operation when the index cardof the second embodiment shown in FIG. 42 is printed.

The difference in operation between the first index card print and thesecond index card print is that steps for designation of file aredifferent from each other. Namely, in the high resolution mode, the stepS202 and the step S207 are different. In the low resolution mode, thestep S211 and the step S215 are different. The reason why filedesignating method is different as stated above will be described below.

In the case of the index card 80 of the second embodiment, only oneindex card can be inserted into the cassette case 60. Moreover, sincethe size (dimensions) of the index card is limited, it is impossible toprint all index picture data on the disc onto the index card 80.Accordingly, it is desirable to print, onto the index card 80, only therepresentative picture data from picture data recorded onto the disc.Therefore, the file designating method with respect to the first indexcard print in which all index picture data are designated and the filedesignating method with respect to the second index card print in whichonly the representative picture data is designated are different fromeach other. Steps different from those of the first index card printwill be described below, and explanation of steps similar to those ofthe first index card print is omitted.

At the step S202 and the step S207, the intermediate resolution picturefile is designated. This intermediate resolution picture file isdesignated on the basis of N picture directory information units withinthe overall information management file "OV₋₋ INF. PMF". Data relatingto the N index picture data recorded within the overall index file "OV₋₋INX. PMF" are recorded in the N picture directory information units. Aspreviously described, n number of (one in the embodiment) index picturedata are stored in the overall index file "OV₋₋ INF. PMF" everyrespective picture directories in order of picture number of therespective picture directories. Moreover, as shown in FIGS. 24(a)-24(b),directory numbers and index picture numbers are respectively recorded inthe N picture directory information units. Namely, by making referenceto the N picture directory information units, it is possible to obtaindirectory numbers and index picture numbers relating to the N indexpicture data recorded in the overall index file "OV₋₋ INF. PMF".Accordingly, at the step S202 and the step S207, N intermediateresolution picture data are designated in order on the basis of the Npicture directory information units.

At the step S211 and the step S215, it is sufficient to designate theoverall index file "OV₋₋ INF. PMF" to read out N index picture datarecorded within this file.

Other steps are similar to those of the first index card print.

By printing picture data recorded on the disc onto the index cardaccommodated within the cassette case for keeping or retaining the discas stated above, picture data recorded on the disc can be easilygrasped.

Moreover, by forming print picture data in which processing informationused for processing the index card for the purpose of inserting theindex card into the cassette case is synthesized with plural indexpicture data printed onto the index card, preparation of the index cardcan be easily carried out.

Further, since the directory numbers and the index picture numbers areprinted along with the index picture data printed on the index card,when user only observes this index card, it is possible to graspdirectory in which picture that user desires is recorded. Accordingly,user only observes this index card, without loading the disc into therecording/reproduction unit to retrieve directory in which desiredpicture data is recorded, to thereby designate the directory No. and theindex picture No., thus making it possible to reproduce the desiredpicture. Thus, the retrieval work can be simplified.

In addition, by selecting any of the above-mentioned two modes, it ispossible to prepare an index card that user desires.

When the high resolution mode is selected, the intermediate/lowresolution picture data having resolution higher than that of the indexpicture data is printed as print picture data. Accordingly, index cardof high picture quality can be prepared. In carrying out index print inthe high resolution mode, the intermediate/low resolution picture datagenerated from the intermediate resolution picture data is selected asprint picture data in dependency upon the print resolution of theprinter unit 2, thereby making it possible to carry out index print ofhigh resolution corresponding to the printer unit 2.

Further, when the low resolution mode is selected, the index picturedata stored in the index picture file prepared for the purpose ofdisplaying the index picture data on the monitor is printed as printpicture data. Accordingly, index print can be speedily carried outwithout newly synthesizing index picture data at the time of indexprint.

Furthermore, since related information data relating to high resolutionpicture data related to the index picture data is synthesized with theindex picture data (or intermediate/low resolution picture data) printedon the index card, user can obtain information relating to the highresolution data only by looking at the index card. In addition, sincethis related information data is recorded within the picture datamanagement file stored in the RAM 6a within the system controller 6, itis possible to obtain information relating to the high resolution datawithout retrieving the high resolution picture file including therelated high resolution picture data. Namely, since related informationdata relating to all high resolution picture data can be obtained fromthe RAM 6a without access to the disc, it is possible to speedily formprint picture data printed onto the index card.

I claim:
 1. A picture data printing apparatus comprising:storing meansfor storing high resolution picture files, intermediate resolutionpicture files that correspond with the high resolution picture files,and a plurality of management data files on a storage medium in ahierarchial directory structure, the directory structure having a maindirectory that includes an overall management file and a plurality ofpicture directories, each picture directory having a picture datamanagement file and plurality of picture files; first processing meansfor reading management data files from the storage medium, identifyingan intermediate resolution picture file from the management data files,and reading the intermediate resolution picture file from the storagemedium; second processing means for processing the intermediateresolution picture file read from the storage medium to form a lowerresolution picture file, and forming related data; printing means forprinting the lower resolution picture file and the related data onto anindex card; and control means for controlling the first processingmeans, the second processing means and the printing means.
 2. Thepicture data printing apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein eachpicture directory has a picture directory number, each high resolutionpicture file has a picture number, and each intermediate resolutionpicture file has a picture number, andwherein the first processing meansidentifies the intermediate resolution picture file is identified by thepicture directory number and the picture number.
 3. The picture dataprinting apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein the first processingmeans identifies each of the intermediate resolution picture files onthe storage medium from the management data files in an order, and readseach of the intermediate resolution picture files from the storagemedium in the order.
 4. The picture data printing apparatus as set forthin claim 3, wherein the second processing means forms the lowerresolution picture file by thinning the intermediate resolution picturefile to remove data from the intermediate resolution picture file. 5.The picture data printing apparatus as set forth in claim 4,wherein thecontrol means selects a resolution of the lower resolution picture filein view of a printable resolution of the printing means.
 6. The picturedata printing apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein the relateddata includes information about the high resolution picture file thatcorresponds with the intermediate resolution picture file from which thelower resolution picture file is formed.
 7. The picture data printingapparatus as set forth in claim 6,wherein the related data includes thepicture directory number and the picture number of the high resolutionpicture file that corresponds with the intermediate resolution picturefile from which the lower resolution picture file is formed.
 8. Thepicture data printing apparatus as set forth in claim 7,wherein therelated data is read from a picture data management file thatcorresponds with the high resolution picture file.
 9. The picture dataprinting apparatus as set forth in claim 6,wherein the related dataincludes information that indicates a recording mode of the highresolution picture file that corresponds with the intermediateresolution picture file from which the lower resolution picture file isformed.
 10. The picture data printing apparatus as set forth in claim9,wherein the recording mode includes a high resolution mode and anultra high resolution mode.
 11. The picture data printing apparatus asset forth in claim 7, wherein the related data includes information thatindicates a recording mode of the high resolution picture file thatcorresponds with the intermediate resolution picture file from which thelower resolution picture file is formed.
 12. The picture data printingapparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein the order begins with thelowest picture directory number and the lowest picture number.
 13. Apicture data printing apparatus comprising:storing means for storinghigh resolution picture files, intermediate resolution picture filesthat correspond with the high resolution picture files, and a pluralityof management data files on a storage medium in a hierarchial directorystructure, the directory structure having a main directory that includesan overall management file and a plurality of picture directories, eachpicture directory having a picture data management file and plurality ofpicture files; first processing means for reading management data filesfrom the storage medium, identifying an intermediate resolution picturefile from the management data files, and reading the intermediateresolution picture file from the storage medium; second processing meansfor processing the intermediate resolution picture file to form a lowerresolution picture file, and forming related data; printing means forprinting the lower resolution picture file and the related data onto anindex card; and control means for controlling the first processingmeans, the second processing means, and the printing means; wherein aplurality of index cards are formed on a print media, and wherein indexcard information for forming the index card to fit within a storage caseis printed on the print media by the printing means.
 14. The picturedata printing apparatus as set forth in claim 13,wherein the index cardinformation includes cutting line information for cutting the index cardfrom the print media.
 15. A picture data printing apparatuscomprising:storing means for storing high resolution picture files,intermediate resolution picture files that correspond with the highresolution picture files, index files, and a plurality of managementdata files on a storage medium in a hierarchial directory structure, thedirectory structure having a main directory that includes an overallmanagement file and a plurality of picture directories, each picturedirectory having a picture data management file, a picture index file,and a plurality of picture files, the picture index file of a picturedirectory having a plurality of low resolution picture files thatcorrespond to the high resolution picture files in the picturedirectory; first processing means for reading management data files fromthe storage medium, identifying a picture index file from the managementdata files, and reading the picture index file so identified from thestorage medium; second processing means for forming related data;printing means for printing the picture index file identified by thefirst processing means and the related data onto an index card; andcontrol means for controlling the first processing means, the secondprocessing means, and the printing means.
 16. The picture data printingapparatus as set forth in claim 15,and further including memory meansfor temporarily storing the management data files.
 17. The picture dataprinting apparatus as set forth in claim 15, wherein each picturedirectory has a picture directory number, and wherein the firstprocessing means identifies a picture index file by the picturedirectory number.
 18. The picture data-printing apparatus as set forthin claim 17, wherein the first processing means identifies each of thepicture index files on the storage medium from the management data filesin an order, and reads each of the picture index files from the storagemedium in the order.
 19. The picture data printing apparatus as setforth in claim 15, wherein the related data includes information aboutthe high resolution picture files that corresponds with the lowresolution picture files in the picture index file identified by thefirst processing means.
 20. The picture data printing apparatus as setforth in claim 19,wherein the related data includes a picture directorynumber and picture numbers which identify the high resolution picturefiles that correspond with the low resolution picture files in thepicture index file identified by the first processing means.
 21. Thepicture data printing apparatus as set forth in claim 20,wherein therelated data for each high resolution picture file that corresponds withthe low resolution picture files in the picture index file identified bythe first processing means is read from a corresponding pictureinformation unit.
 22. The picture data printing apparatus as set forthin claim 19,wherein the related data includes data that indicates arecording mode of each high resolution picture file that correspondswith the low resolution picture files in the picture index fileidentified by the first processing means.
 23. The picture data printingapparatus as set forth in claim 22,wherein the resolution mode includesa high resolution mode and an ultra high resolution mode.
 24. Thepicture data printing apparatus as set forth in claim 20, wherein therelated data includes data that indicates a recording mode of each highresolution picture file that corresponds with the low resolution picturefiles in the picture index file identified by the first processingmeans.
 25. The picture data printing apparatus as set forth in claim 18,wherein the order begins with a lowest picture directory number andincreases to a largest picture directory number.
 26. A picture dataprinting apparatus comprising:storing means for storing high resolutionpicture files, intermediate resolution picture files that correspondwith the high resolution picture files, index files, and a plurality ofmanagement data files on a storage medium in a hierarchial directorystructure, the directory structure having a main directory that includesan overall management file and a plurality of picture directories, eachpicture directory having a picture data management file, a picture indexfile, and plurality of picture files, the picture index file of apicture directory having a plurality of low resolution picture filesthat correspond to each of the high resolution picture files in thepicture directory; first processing means for reading management datafiles from the storage medium, identifying a picture index file from themanagement data files, and reading the picture index file so identifiedfrom the storage medium; second processing means for forming relateddata; printing means for printing the picture index file identified bythe first processing means and the related data onto an index card; andcontrol means for controlling the first processing means, the secondprocessing means, and the printing means, wherein a plurality of indexcards are formed on a print media, and wherein index card informationfor forming the index card to fit within a storage case is printed onthe print media by the printing means.
 27. The picture data printingapparatus as set forth in claim 26,wherein the index card informationincludes cutting line information for cutting the index card from theprint media.
 28. The picture data printing apparatus as set forth inclaim 1,and further comprising selector means for directing the firstprocessing means to identify a intermediate resolution picture file, ora picture index file from the management data files, a picture indexfile being formed in each picture directory, the picture index file of apicture directory having a plurality of low resolution picture filesthat correspond to the high resolution picture files in the picturedirectory.
 29. The picture data printing apparatus as set forth in claim15, and further comprising selector means for directing the firstprocessing means to identify an intermediate resolution picture file, ora picture index file from the management data files.
 30. A picture dataprinting apparatus for printing picture data reproduced from a recordingmedium that stores high resolution picture files, intermediateresolution picture files that correspond with the high resolutionpicture files, and a plurality of management data files on a storagemedium in a hierarchial directory structure, the directory structurehaving a main directory that includes an overall management file and aplurality of picture directories, each picture directory having apicture data management file and plurality of picture files;theapparatus comprising: first processing means for reading management datafiles from the storage medium, identifying an intermediate resolutionpicture file from the management data files, and reading theintermediate resolution picture file from the storage medium; secondprocessing means for processing the intermediate resolution picture fileto form a lower resolution picture file, and forming related data thatidentifies the high resolution picture file that corresponds to theintermediate resolution picture file identified by the first processingmeans; printing means for printing the lower resolution picture file andthe related data onto an index card; and control means for controllingthe first processing means, the second processing means, and theprinting means.
 31. The picture data printing apparatus as set forth inclaim 30, wherein the related data includes information that indicates arecording mode of the high resolution picture file that corresponds withthe intermediate resolution picture file from which the lower resolutionpicture file is formed.
 32. A print picture data generating unit in apicture data printing apparatus for printing picture data reproducedfrom a recording medium that stores high resolution picture files,intermediate resolution picture files that correspond with the highresolution picture files, index files, and a plurality of managementdata files on a storage medium in a hierarchial directory structure, thedirectory structure having a main directory that includes an overallmanagement file and a plurality of picture directories, each picturedirectory having a picture data management file, a picture index file,and plurality of picture files, the picture index file of a picturedirectory having a plurality of low resolution picture files thatcorrespond to the high resolution picture files in the picturedirectory;the print picture data generating unit comprising: firstprocessing means for reading management data files from the storagemedium, identifying all of the picture index files from the managementdata files, and reading all of the picture index files so identifiedfrom the storage medium; second processing means for forming printpicture data from the picture index files read from the storage medium,and forming related data; printing means for printing the picture indexfiles read from the storage medium and the related data onto an indexcard; and control means for controlling the first processing means, thesecond processing means, and the printing means.
 33. The print picturedata generating apparatus as set forth in claim 32,wherein the secondprocessing means forms related data for each high resolution picturefile that corresponds to the low resolution picture files in each of thepicture index files read from the storage medium.
 34. A picture dataprinting apparatus comprising:a storage unit that stores high resolutionpicture files, intermediate resolution picture files that correspondwith the high resolution picture files, and a plurality of managementdata files on a storage medium in a hierarchial directory structure, thedirectory structure having a main directory that includes an overallmanagement file and a plurality of picture directories, each picturedirectory having a picture data management file and plurality of picturefiles, the storage unit reading management data files and intermediateresolution picture files from the storage medium; a controller connectedto the storage unit that directs the storage unit to read the managementdata files, receives the management data files read by the storage unit,identifies an intermediate resolution picture file from the managementdata files, and directs the storage unit to read the intermediateresolution picture file; and a picture processor connected to thestorage unit and the controller that processes the intermediateresolution picture file read from the storage unit to form a lowerresolution picture file.
 35. The apparatus of claim 34 wherein thestorage unit also stores index files,wherein each picture directoryincludes an index file, the index file of a picture directory having aplurality of low resolution picture files that correspond to the highresolution picture files in the picture directory, wherein thecontroller identifies an intermediate resolution picture file or anindex file in response to a selection criteria.
 36. The apparatus ofclaim 35 wherein when the controller identifies an index file, thecontroller directs the storage unit to read the index file so identifiedfrom the storage medium.